Asia Cup 2025: Naveen-ul-Haq ruled out due to injury, Afghanistan name replacement

Asia Cup 2025: Naveen-ul-Haq ruled out due to injury, Afghanistan name replacement (AP Photo)

Afghanistan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2025 due to an injury. The pacer is recovering from a shoulder injury and has been deemed not fit by the Afghanistan medical team to compete further in the tournament.

Fast bowler Abdullah Ahmadzai, who was part of the Afghanistan reserves, has been promoted to the main squad as Naveen's replacement. Ahmadzai made his international debut in the recently-concluded Tri-Series featuring Pakistan and UAE and has played one solitary T20I so far.

An official update on Naveen's injury read: "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."

"The ACB wishes Naveen Ul Haq a speedy recovery and extends its best wishes to Abdullah Ahmadzai for the matches ahead," it added.

Naveen-ul-Haq has played 48 T20Is in which he has registered 67 scalps at an average of 18.73 and an economy rate of 7.79, with best figures of 4/20. Naveen is also known for his infamous conflict with Virat Kohli. The clash between the two took place during an 2023 IPL encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which led to a heated confrontation between Gautam Gambhir and the former RCB captain. However, both cricketers settled the dust at the ODI World Cup played later that year in India.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan started off the Asia Cup campaign with a massive 94-run victory over Hong Kong in their Group B clash at Abu Dhabi. They will now face Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on September 16. It's a must-win encounter for Bangladesh, who lost their first match against Sri Lanka, to keep their hopes alive for a Super Four spot. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will hope for yet another promising show and strengthen their position at the top of Group B.

Afghanistan's updated squad: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooq.