“The absence of Naveen-ul-Haq from Afghanistan’s Asia Cup 2023 squad has dashed the hopes of fans eagerly anticipating a rematch between him and Virat Kohli. The clash between Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq and India’s Virat Kohli during the Indian Premier League (IPL) had garnered immense attention, leading fans to anticipate a similar showdown in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. However, it has been confirmed that Naveen-ul-Haq will not be part of Afghanistan’s squad for the tournament.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s cricketing journey has seen him play in various franchise leagues worldwide, representing teams in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, and Bangladesh. Notably, he was a member of the Lucknow Super Giants during the IPL 2023, where his encounter with Virat Kohli took place.
The pacer has been involved in verbal exchanges on previous occasions as well, including altercations with Pakistan’s Mohammed Amir and Shahid Afridi in 2020.
While the exact reason for his exclusion remains uncertain, reports from Cricbuzz a month ago indicated that Naveen-ul-Haq underwent a minor surgery, rendering him unavailable for two months.
In addition to Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai’s absence due to a side strain sustained during the Pakistan series further depletes Afghanistan’s squad for Asia Cup 2023. Notably absent are Shahidullah Kamal and Wafadar Momand as well.
Afghanistan is set to rely on a formidable spin attack featuring the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi, Noor Ahmed, and Mujeeb ur Rahman. The pace department will be led by Fazalhaq Farooqi, supported by former captain Gulbadin Naib, Janat, Abdul Rahman, and Mohammad Saleem.
Although not considered as the favorites, Afghanistan remains determined to put up a strong fight in the tournament. They showcased their potential during the recent ODI series against Pakistan, nearly securing a victory. Following a challenging defeat in the first ODI, Afghanistan rebounded with an impressive total of 300, thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s remarkable 151-run performance. The intense contest saw Pakistan narrowly emerge victorious with just one wicket remaining, sealing the victory in the penultimate ball of the final over.
Afghanistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi”