Afghanistan’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad unveiled: Naveen-ul-Haq returns

In preparation for next month’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan have named a strong 15-member squad.

Despite a strong performance in the ongoing Asia Cup, Naveen-ul-Haq returns to the Afghan ODI squad after a two-year absence for the World Cup in India.

Along with Naib, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s squad features four changes from the group that played at the Asia Cup. Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Suliman Safi are also absent.

Azmatullah Omarzai returns from an injury that kept him out of the Asia Cup, while Naveen, who last played List A in 2021, returns to the squad.

To date, Naveen has played only seven One-Day Internationals, taking 14 wickets at an average of 25.42. Janat, who was recalled for the Asia Cup after a six-year absence, was dropped from the squad.

Meanwhile, Naib starred on his ODI comeback in the Pakistan series, taking the openers’ wickets in the final ODI, and then took four wickets against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, but was left out.

Besides Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, the squad also includes Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad in the spin department.

Naveen returns to the pace attack, as well as Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, and Omarzai.

Afghanistan World Cup squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq.