Massive blow for Afghanistan as star player ruled out of Asia Cup 2025; ACB name replacement

Afghanistan has faced a massive blow ahead of their next fixture against Bangladesh in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with their star player getting ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Naveen Ul Haq, the veteran pacer, won’t be able to take part in the rest of the event, as the Afghanistan Cricket Board revealed.

Naveen-Ul-Haq didn’t feature during their opening clash against Hong Kong China at the same venue. The right-arm pacer has picked up 67 wickets in his 48 innings of the T20I career at an average of 18.73 and a strike rate of 14.4 with an economy rate of 7.78, thanks to the best bowling figure of 4/20 in an inning. Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) posted a new update.

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“Afghanistan's veteran fast bowler, Naveen Ul Haq, has been ruled out of the ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025. He is still recovering from a shoulder injury and has not been declared fit by the ACB medical team to participate in the remaining matches. Naveen will continue to undergo intensive treatment and rehabilitation until he is fully fit.” ACB posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Afghanistan name Abdullah Ahmadzai to replace injured Naveen Ul Haq for Asia Cup 2025

Naveen’s miss will be huge for Afghanistan in the experience department. The right-arm pacer has overall picked up 267 wickets in 219 innings in the shortest format at an average of 24.26 and a strike rate of 17.3 with an economy rate of 8.40, thanks to six four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.

The 22-year-old, Abdullah Ahmadzai, will replace Naveen in the squad. The right-arm pacer has already featured in a T20I against the UAE earlier this year during the tri-series. In that game, he ended with figures of 1/31 in three overs. In the overall 11 innings of the T20s, he grabbed 15 scalps at an average of under 17 and an economy rate of 7.14.

Afghanistan, who are at the top of Group B with a net run rate of +4.70, will need just one more victory out of their remaining two games against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to qualify for the Super Four stage of the competition.