The Afghanistan Cricket Board have announced the cricket squad for the 16th Asian Games to held in Guangzhou, China.
Nawroz Mangal (Captain)
Mohammad Nabi
Mirwais Ashraf
Karim Sadiq (vice-captain)
Mohammad Shahzad
Hamid Hassan
Samiullah Shenwari
Noor Ali
Asghar Stanikzai
Shapoor Zardan
Pamir Hussini
Aftab Alam
Khaliq Dad
Gulbadeen Naib
Javed Ahmadi
Reserve players: Dawlat Ahmadzai, Izatullah Suhail, Shabir Ahmad, Abdullah Mazari, and Noorulhaq Malakzai.
There are two changes to the squad that is currently in the Netherlands: Pamir Hussini is in for Shabir Noori and Gulbadeen Naib, coming back into the squad after two years, replaces Dawlat Ahmadzai. Another noticeable change is Karim Sadiq becoming vice-captain instead of Mirwais Ashraf, Nawroz Mangal’s understudy in the Netherlands.
The Asian Games, to be played between November 12th to November 27th, will feature cricket for the first time. Matches will be played on a Twenty20, 20-overs per side format.
Along with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are competing. India pulled out recently to much furore.
The Asian games will present a huge opportunity for Afghanistan to play the likes of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Those teams are likely to send weakened teams so Afghanistan may fancy their chances of causing an upset.
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