Dubai: Afghanistan have included three uncapped players in a strong 17-member squad for the 2018 Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 13-28. Sayed Sherzad, Munir Ahmad and Wafadar earned call-ups to the One-Day International side in an otherwise familiar looking line-up for the marquee event.
Among the three, Wafadar and Sherzad have turned out for the national side in Test and Twenty20 Internationals respectively whereas Ahmad is yet to represent Afghanistan.
Wafadar impressed one and all in Afghanistan’ maiden Test against India earlier this year and was included in the ODI squad that visited Ireland recently, though he did not get a game. 23-year-old Sherzad is a left-arm pacer, who has played three T20Is for the national side in which he has returned seven wickets. The duo, along with Aftab Alam will form the pace department.
Ahmad, 22, a wicketkeeper batsman, has been included in the side as backup for Mohammad Shahzad and comes with impressive List A numbers.
Left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf was also called back into the side, with Afghanistan understandably going with a spin-heavy outfit. Alongside regulars Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ashraf will provide the variety on surfaces which are bound to aid spin.
Meanwhile, UAE skipper Rohan Mustafa’s all-round performance and Ahmad Raza’s four-wicket spell helped the UAE record an eight-wicket win over Malaysia in their fourth match of the Asia Cup qualifier at the Bayuemas Oval ground in Malaysia. For UAE, who had lost their third match against Hong Kong on Saturday, this win will keep them in contention to win the championship.
Mustafa took two wickets and hit an unbeaten 38 to bag the Player of the Match award. He supported UAE left-arm spinner Raza, who bagged four for 28 and bowled out Malaysia for a paltry 92 in 31.3 overs.
Chasing the small target, UAE lost opener Ashfaq Ahmad for one. Chirag Suri, who came one down, hit 22 runs off just 10 balls with four boundaries and a six. He put on 36 runs with Mustafa who opened the innings before being caught and bowled by Syed Aziz. Rameez Shahzad, who remained unbeaten on 26 with two boundaries and two sixes, steered the team to the target with his skipper in just 8.1 overs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Mustafa who is delighted at this team’s show after the defeat to Hong Kong, said: “It was a good performance from my team especially after losing to Hong Kong just 24 hours before. My boys did very well to produce a good comeback.”
Talking about his performance, Mustafa who bowled tightly and garnered his resources well said: “It is very pleasing always to produce a good show for my team and I feel it is my duty to lead from the front.”
Raza, who has produced spells of six for 20 against Singapore, four for 37 against Nepal and four and 4 for 28 against Malaysia, said: “It is a good win over Malaysia and I am happy to produce another good spell in UAE’s victory. This win will keep us in the hunt.”