Kusal Mendis's composed 74 led Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, securing their spot in the Asia Cup's Super Four stage and eliminating Afghanistan. Nuwan Thushara's four wickets restricted Afghanistan to 169, despite Mohammad Nabi's explosive 60. Sri Lanka's composed batting and Afghanistan's fielding errors proved decisive in the pressure contest.
Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by eight runs in a crucial Asia Cup match, boosting their chances for Super Fours qualification. After limiting Bangladesh to 154, Afghanistan faltered in their chase, getting bowled out for 146. Excellent fielding and dominant powerplay performances were key for Bangladesh, along with Tanzid Hasan's quickfire 52.
Rashid Khan etched his name in Asia Cup T20I history, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets. His achievement came during Afghanistan's match against Bangladesh, where he took 2 crucial wickets. Despite a strong start from Bangladesh, Afghanistan's bowlers, including Rashid, restricted them to 154/5, showcasing their prowess in the tournament.
Afghanistan won their opening Asia Cup match against Hong Kong but showed inconsistency in performance. Coach Jonathan Trott warned that individual brilliance won't suffice against stronger teams ahead.
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka voiced their concerns regarding the Asia Cup 2025's scheduling and logistics. Rashid highlighted the inconvenience of traveling between Dubai and Abu Dhabi for matches. Asalanka expressed fatigue from back-to-back games and emphasized the need for recovery time amidst the extreme heat.
Asia Cup 2025: After their success in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan have evolved from being mere challengers to genuine contenders for the ACC Asia Men's T20 Cup, which begins on September 9.
Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal's consecutive half-centuries propelled Afghanistan to an 18-run victory over Pakistan in the T20 tri-series. Afghanistan's spin trio restricted Pakistan to 151 for 9, successfully defending their total of 169 for 5. Despite Mohammad Haris's late flourish, Afghanistan's early dominance with both bat and ball secured the win.
Rashid Khan etched his name in T20I history, becoming the highest wicket-taker as Afghanistan defeated UAE by 38 runs. Khan's 3/21 restricted UAE to 150/8, surpassing Tim Southee's record. Afghanistan posted 188/4, fueled by Ibrahim Zadran's 63 and Sediqullah Atal's 54. Despite Muhammad Waseem's 67, UAE faltered. This victory marks Afghanistan's comeback in the tri-series after losing to Pakistan.
Afghanistan secured a 38-run win over the UAE in the T20I tri-series in Sharjah. Rashid Khan set a new record as the highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals, boosting team morale after an earlier loss to Pakistan.
Afghanistan's cricket captain, Rashid Khan, faced a personal tragedy with the recent passing of his elder brother, Haji Abdul Halim Shinwari. Despite his grief, Rashid led his team in the ongoing tri-series in Sharjah, receiving heartfelt support from the cricketing community. The Pakistan team paid their respects, and condolences poured in from teammates and former captain Asghar Afghan.
Pakistan began their Asia Cup preparations with a confident 39-run victory over Afghanistan in Sharjah. Salman Agha laid the platform with a 53-run knock, after which Haris Rauf picked up four wickets.
Afghanistan’s rise from ICC’s lower divisions to Asia’s No. 2 white-ball team is cricket’s most remarkable story of the last decade. From inspiring World Cup campaigns to a T20 semifinal run, they’ve surpassed Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, uniting a nation through hope, resilience, and a fearless brand of cricket.
Afghanistan announced their 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025, with Rashid Khan captaining the team. Naveen-ul-Haq returns, bolstering the pace attack alongside Fazalhaq Farooqi and others. The squad blends experienced players like Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib with promising talents, aiming to challenge established teams and make a significant impact in the tournament.