Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup on Tuesday (August 16). The Asia Cup is scheduled to start from August 27 this month.

Mohammad Nabi will continue to lead the side in the Asia Cup too. They’re currently in Ireland playing five-match T20I series under the captaincy of Nabi. Najibullah Zadran has been named as the vice-captain. The 34-year-old allrounder Samiullah Shinwari has been called back to the squad who played his last match for Afghanistan two years ago in 2020.

"The Asia Cup is an important event for us and, as such, we have picked our best available players for the event," Afghanistan's chief selector Noor Malikzai said. "Samiullah Shinwari has been added to the side for the Asia Cup. He is in very good form and can give further impetus to the batting department, which already boasts Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi."

Shinwari has been added to the squad because of his outstanding performance recently for Boost Defenders in the Afghanistan domestic league, Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL). He scored 202 runs in 9 matches there with an average of 33.66.

All-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, spinner Qais Ahmad, and Pace bowler Nijat Masoud have been named as reserves.

Afghanistan are placed in Group B in Asia Cup and will play their first match against Sri Lanka on the opening day (August 27).

Afghanistan squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Samiullah Shinwari, Afsar Zazai (wk), Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad.

Reserves: Nijat Masoud, Qais Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf.