Asia Cup 2025: Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul Haq ruled out with shoulder injury

Afghanistan's ace pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out of the remainder of the Asia Cup 2025 due to a shoulder injury. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that Naveen has not been cleared by the medical team to take part in the tournament and will instead continue his rehabilitation process.

Notably, Naveen did not feature in Afghanistan’s opening match of the tournament against Hong Kong. He had also missed the tri-series involving Pakistan and the UAE earlier this month, with his last outing coming in June during the Major League Cricket (MLC) for MI New York. The pacer has been dealing with a shoulder issue since then, and the ACB decided not to risk his participation.

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Since making his debut, Naveen has become one of Afghanistan’s most reliable T20 bowlers. In 48 T20Is, he has picked 67 wickets at an average of 18.73, with best figures of 4/20. His contributions were crucial in Afghanistan’s run to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024, where he finished with 13 wickets, including a match-winning burst against Australia. The pacer has also become a big name in franchise cricket, playing in leagues like the IPL, CPL, BPL, and LPL.

Replacing him in the squad is young fast bowler Abdullah Ahmadzai, who was part of the reserves. Ahmadzai recently made his international debut against the UAE, where he picked up one wicket in his three-over spell. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has begun its Asia Cup campaign on a high note.

They registered a dominant 94-run victory over Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, with half-centuries from Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai. Rashid Khan-led team will next face Bangladesh on September 16 at the Dubai International Stadium. For Bangladesh, it will be a must-win encounter to keep their Super Four hopes alive. 

Afghanistan's updated squad for Asia Cup 2025: 

Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi.