Rashid Khan to lead Afghanistan for upcoming tri-series against Pakistan, UAE

The squad will undergo a two-week training camp ahead of the tri-series in Sharjah

Last updated: August 06, 2025 | 14:13

Jai Rai, Assistant Editor

2 MIN READ

Afghanistan's ace spinner Rashid Khan will miss the Twenty20 series against India, which begins in Mohali on Thursday.

Reuters

Dubai: Afghanistan star Rashid Khan will lead the side for the upcoming tri-series against Pakistan and the UAE.

The 22-member squad will undergo a two-week training camp ahead of the tri-series in Sharjah, with the side's first match set for August 29 against Pakistan.

The tri-series is a perfect preparation for the Asia Cup that begins immediately after this tournament.

"It's an important tournament," Khan told Gulf News when asked about Asia Cup.

"The best teams are there, and as a player and as a captain and as a team, we have that positive mindset and intent. To play brave cricket and that's something which we have in the mind.

Also Read: The secret behind fearless Afghanistan’s stunning rise in world cricket

"At the moment, we don't keep that in mind that we have to win the Asia Cup, but what is important is to put effort in the ground, give our 100 per cent and be well prepared.

"I think that's something which is under our control, and we will see how far we go. But for us as a team now, we have to go all out," he added.

White-ball stars Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Mohammad Nabi, who helped Afghanistan qualify for the knockout stage of last year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup, are also included.

Youngsters Wafiullah Tarakhil, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Bashir Ahmad also win spots in the preliminary squad and could be in contention for a first international cap if chosen for selection.

The tournament will take place ahead of the Asia Cup in September, as the sub-continent teams prepare for next year's T20 World Cup.

All three teams will face each other twice, with the top two sides then advancing to the final scheduled for September 7.

The two teams have played against each other at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium five times in T20Is, with Pakistan having got the better of Afghanistan thrice while the latter have emerged victorious on two other occasions.

Preliminary squad: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Nangyal Kharoti, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Zadran, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen ul Haq, Farid Malik, Saleem Safi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad.

Tri-series schedule:

August 29: Afghanistan v Pakistan

August 30: UAE v Pakistan

September 1: UAE v Afghanistan

September 2: Pakistan v Afghanistan

September 4: Pakistan v UAE

September 5: Afghanistan vs UAE

September 7: Final

With inputs from ANI

Jai RaiAssistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.