Not long ago, Afghanistan was celebrated mainly for its spirit and resilience, often labelled as plucky underdogs. That perception no longer holds true. Over the past two years, Afghanistan has rewritten its story. They defeated Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and England in the 2023 ODI World Cup, stunned Australia and New Zealand in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and humbled England again in the 2025 Champions Trophy. These were not isolated upsets but a sustained rise that has pushed Afghanistan to the brink of becoming Asia’s second-best T20 team. Their form in the ongoing tri-series against Pakistan and the UAE only strengthens that claim.
Batting Power and Stability
Afghanistan’s batting has evolved from top-heavy to multi-layered. Rahmanullah Gurbaz provides the fire at the top with 1776 runs in 70 T20Is at a strike rate of 133. Ibrahim Zadran brings stability with a healthy ODI average above 50 and a T20 average of 30. Rising star Sediqullah Atal adds flair and reliability. In the Champions Trophy, Sediqullah Atal stole the spotlight with a commanding 85 off 95 against Australia, underscoring the depth of their batting. In the tri series, Atal and Zadran both struck half-centuries in a dominant win over Pakistan. Azmatullah Omarzai provides middle-order firepower, while Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib infuse experience and composure in the closing stages.
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Spin Supremacy
The backbone of Afghanistan’s rise remains its spinners. Rashid Khan recently became the all-time leading wicket taker in T20 internationals during the tri series, his tally reaching 165 wickets at an average of 13.75 and economy of 6.07. Alongside him, Mohammad Nabi offers ironclad control, Mujeeb Ur Rahman brings powerplay menace, and Noor Ahmad adds left-arm wrist spin variety. Together, Rashid, Nabi, and Noor dismantled Pakistan in Sharjah, sharing six wickets en route to an 18-run victory, proof that their spin department is among the strongest in the game.
Pace with Precision
Where pace was once a challenge, it has now become a strength. Fazalhaq Farooqi strikes early with swing, Naveen ul Haq excels at the death, Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib add seam utility, and Fareed Ahmad brings raw pace. In the tri series, Fareed defended five runs off the final three balls to seal a tense four-run victory over the UAE. Farooqi’s early strikes against Pakistan set the stage for the spinners to shine.
Tri Series Proving Ground
The tri-series against Pakistan and the UAE has been a proving ground. Afghanistan began with a defeat to Pakistan but responded with conviction. In their rematch, Zadran’s 65 and Atal’s 64 laid the foundation for 169 for 5, and the bowlers held Pakistan to 151 for 9. Against the UAE, Gurbaz with 40 and Zadran with 48 set a target of 170 for 4, before Fareed’s tense final over clinched a four-run win. At the end of the round robin, Afghanistan sat just behind Pakistan on the table, with Zadran finishing as top scorer with 185 runs, Atal adding 141, and Rashid among the top wicket takers with six scalps.
The final, however, proved a sobering moment of reflection as Afghanistan were comprehensively outplayed by Pakistan in a one-sided contest. Chasing a modest target of 142 on a challenging surface, they faltered and were dismissed for just 66 runs. The performance underscored the need to regroup and address their ability to handle pressure in high-stakes matches, particularly with much of the batting load continuing to rest on Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal. As they turn their attention to the Asia Cup, Afghanistan must build depth and composure in the batting order if they are to compete effectively against top-tier opposition such as India and Pakistan, both of whom enter the tournament as strong favourites.
Asia Cup 2025: Squad and Schedule
Afghanistan has announced a balanced and versatile 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, blending experience with emerging talent. The squad reads:
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, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
The Asia Cup runs from September 9 to 28, 2025, taking place in the UAE across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, using a T20I format with eight teams split into two groups. Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.
Afghanistan’s Group B fixtures are as follows
September 9: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Stadium
September 16: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Abu Dhabi
September 18: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi
If Afghanistan finishes among the top two in the group, they would advance to the Super Four stage scheduled from September 20 to 26, followed by the final on September 28 in Dubai.
The No. 2 Question
On paper, Pakistan still holds the ranking edge in Asia. But Afghanistan’s recent tri-series dominance, combined with their well-rounded squad and strategic depth, makes a compelling case that they are Asia’s form team right now. With match winners like Rashid and Nabi, rising stars like Atal and Noor, and reliable performers such as Gurbaz and Zadran, Afghanistan have the balance to challenge any side. If they sustain this momentum into the Asia Cup, they will not just claim, they will prove that they are Asia’s true number two T20 side.
Closing Remark
This team is no longer defined by underdog grit but by genuine world-class capability. As the Asia Cup unfolds, Afghanistan looks less like hopeful challengers and more like rightful heirs to Asia’s second throne, behind India but steadily closing in.
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