Afghanistan Buoyant Going into Asia Cup Despite Rashid Khan Form Concern

Afghanistan has made a 22-man preliminary squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup and the board is not particularly concerned about the present form of their star spinner Rashid Khan. Although Rashid has not been in top form recently the team is convinced he will bounce back and perform when the chips are down. He will captain the team in the Asia Cup to be hosted in the UAE from September 9 to September 28. The board is hoping his experience and the power to deliver in major tournaments will come to fore as it has done in the past. Rashid is commonly regarded as being among Afghanistan's most reliable and talented players and his work for the team year after year has yielded him such consideration.

Following a disappointing IPL season with Gujarat Titans in which he took just nine wickets and maintained a lofty economy rate Rashid decided to miss Major League Cricket in the US to concentrate on his fitness and preparation. His recent performances may not be his typical magic but those around the team are adamant that form is transient and class is eternal. Mir Mubariz of the ACB selection panel says that Rashid knows exactly how to come back and his loyalty to the team is never in doubt.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board is also conducting a two-week camp of training to get the players ready for the Asia Cup as well as the forthcoming tri-nation T20I series against Pakistan and UAE. The camp will be absolutely vital for players to show themselves in front of the selectors and the coaching staff. Mubariz informed that the Asia Cup team is most likely to be selected from these 22 players unless injuries compel them to introduce some last-minute changes. The team management has utilized this chance to test some new faces and provide them with an opportunity to fight for one additional spot in the team.

Afghanistan has a long tradition of very good spin bowling and that is still the case. Rashid Khan will be aided by other seasoned spinners such as Mujeeb Ur Rahman Mohammad Nabi and young talent Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar. Along with them the selectors have included Nangyal Kharoti and Sharafuddin Ashraf in the team. Ashraf especially has been excellent in domestic cricket and was awarded Player of the Tournament in the just concluded Shpageeza Cricket League.

At the pace department Afghanistan is constructing a promising team of fast bowlers. Adding young pacers such as Abdullah Ahmadzai and Bashir Ahmad indicates that the selectors are looking to the future and planning ahead. Both have emerged with potential particularly Ahmadzai who is reporting for the senior preparation camp for the first time. Salim Safi is also available following recovery from injury and with others such as Naveen ul Haq and Fazal Haq Farooqi the pace unit is well positioned with the ability to deliver speeds of about 140 kilometers per hour. Mubariz was pleased with the fast bowling unit and noted that they provide good balance to work with the spinners.

The batting line-up will also be closely monitored during training. The squad has added some choices at the top such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran. The coach and captain will decide on the opening combination based on the conditions of the match. There's also anticipation for Wafiullah Tarakhil who has impressed in domestic competitions and is being viewed as a possible top-order choice. Other hopeful batters such as Darwish Rasooli and Mohammad Ishaq bring depth to the team allowing the side to have several options while determining the batting lineup.

The campaign of Afghanistan in the Asia Cup will begin on September 9 with a game against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. They will next play Bangladesh on September 16 and Sri Lanka on September 18. These group games will prove crucial for Afghanistan to reach the next stage and the team's blend of experience and new blood is likely to feature significantly in their quest. With stiff rivals in their division the team will be counting on their veteran players to mentor the young ones and stay cool under pressure.

One of the key objectives for this tournament is not only to do well in the Asia Cup but also to look ahead at the ICC events soon. The Asia Cup will serve as a testing ground to seal combinations for the impending World Cup. The selection committee and the captain and the coach will look at the performance of the players in the tri-nation series and the camp before making any official announcements.

Despite doubts over Rashid Khan's current form Afghanistan management is confident that he will captivate the team successfully and return with solid performances. They have constructed a balanced team with a good blend of young vigor and seasoned campaigners. The selectors have established that the door is open to all to demonstrate their abilities and the final team will be selected based on current form instead of historical reputation only.

This young and determined side provides a cause for optimism among fans. With quality spinners developing into some good fast bowlers and an accommodating batting order the Afghan side appears to be poised to leave an impression in the Asia Cup. While they gear up for the task ahead there is an undercurrent of self-assurance inside the camp that this side is capable of delivery as a unit and go deep into the tournament. Whether Rashid Khan is back to his good form or not, the belief in the dressing room is strong and that will be critical as Afghanistan targets to confront Asia's top teams.