Naveen Ul Haq ruled out of the Asia Cup for Afghanistan with pacer Abdollah Ahmadzai named as his replacement.
Abdollah Ahmadzai has been selected to replace Afghanistan’s fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who has been ruled out of the current Asia Cup.
Despite missing the UAE tri-series before the competition, Naveen was included in the Asia Cup team. An Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) statement states that Naveen has not been deemed fit by the medical staff and is still recuperating from a shoulder injury. “Naveen will continue to undergo intensive treatment and rehabilitation until he is fully fit,” added the statement.
With Naveen sidelined, Ahmadzai, who was initially on the Asia Cup reserves list, participated in the UAE tri-series. In the series, which is also his only Twenty20 International to date, he made his debut for his country by taking 1 for 31 in three overs against the United Arab Emirates. He has taken 15 wickets in 11 T20 matches overall.
Naveen last played for Afghanistan in a Twenty20 International match against Zimbabwe in Harare in December 2024. Earlier this year, he played for Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20, where he claimed five wickets in eight games. In June, he participated in MLC as well, taking eight wickets in five games for MI New York, the tournament winners.
Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, and Karim Janat, the fast-bowling all-rounder, are the other specialised quicks in the team, along with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad.
Afghanistan has only participated in the Asia Cup once, in the opening match, defeating Hong Kong by 94 runs. They play Sri Lanka on September 18 and Bangladesh on September 16 in their next group games.