In the ever-changing landscape of international cricket, the selection of squads for major tournaments is often subjected to rigorous scrutiny. Afghanistan, a rapidly developing cricketing nation, made significant progress in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, showcasing notable performances.
However, the roster for the 2023 World Cup witnessed the exclusion of several crucial players from the 2019 squad. While the team has evolved and become stronger, it is important to examine the players who were part of the 2019 World Cup squad but have not been chosen for the 2023 CWC.
1.) Gulbadin Naib:
Gulbadin Naib, the former captain, played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's 2019 World Cup campaign. Renowned for his all-round skills, he made valuable contributions with both bat and ball. His commendable leadership qualities played a key role in nurturing young talents. Despite his impressive performance in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023, the right-handed all-rounder failed to secure a place in the CWC squad and will lead Afghanistan in the Asian Games 2023.
2.) Aftab Alam:
Aftab Alam, known for his ability to swing the ball and take crucial wickets, played a crucial role as Afghanistan's go-to bowler in the 2019 World Cup. Unfortunately, his absence from the 2023 squad can be attributed to a combination of injuries and inconsistent form. Injuries often disrupt a player's rhythm and effectiveness, and this, coupled with form issues, has hindered his inclusion.
3.) Asghar Afghan:
Asghar Afghan, a revered figure in Afghan cricket, has served as the captain of the Afghanistan team. His astute leadership and significant batting performances have left an indelible mark, making him a well-known name. However, the cricketing world bid farewell to this legendary figure during the T20 World Cup in 2021, marking the end of an illustrious international career that had made a significant contribution to the growth of Afghanistan as a cricketing nation.
4.) Dawlat Zadran
Dawlat Zadran, renowned for his pace and bounce, is widely regarded as a formidable asset in Afghanistan's bowling lineup. However, concerns have been raised about the team's pace bowling alternatives following his exclusion from the 2023 World Cup squad, despite previous injury setbacks.
5.) Hamid Hassan:
Hamid Hassan, affectionately known as Afghanistan's 'Blue Tiger,' embodies a fierce pace and a commanding presence on the cricket field. His unmatched ability to intimidate batters with raw pace and hostility has earned him great respect. Unfortunately, his career has been plagued by injuries, resulting in frustrating periods on the sidelines. Despite making a strong comeback after overcoming these setbacks, his surprising omission from the 2023 World Cup squad has raised eyebrows.
6.)Hazratullah Zazai
Hazratullah Zazai, a prominent player for Afghanistan in white-ball formats, notably made his mark in the 2019 World Cup. Bursting onto the international scene with breathtaking displays, this explosive left-handed opener quickly gained recognition. However, his absence from the 2023 World Cup squad has left a noticeable void at the top of the batting order. Zazai's aggressive style and ability to provide rapid starts could have greatly benefited Afghanistan in the tournament, making his exclusion a topic of scrutiny and discussion within the cricketing community.
7.) Mohammad Shahzad:
Mohammad Shahzad, an audacious wicketkeeper-batter, injected flair into Afghanistan's batting order with his aggressive style. He played pivotal innings in crucial moments. Notably, Shahzad's commitment to the national side remains unwavering, as he will travel to Hangzhou as the vice-captain of the Afghanistan Cricket team in the Asian Games 2023, despite missing out on the World Cup selection.
8.) Samiullah Shinwari:
Samiullah Shinwari, a dependable middle-order batsman and versatile bowler, played a crucial role in Afghanistan's campaign in the 2019 World Cup. His experience and adaptability were highly valued. Unfortunately, he was not included in the 2023 squad, indicating a change in the team's composition and a significant omission considering his contributions in the previous tournament.
9.) Ikram Ali Khil
Ikram Ali Khil, a promising wicketkeeper-batsman, showed great potential during the 2019 World Cup. While his cricketing journey continues, he will have to wait for another opportunity to represent his country on the international stage.
The excitement for Afghanistan's performance in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 is tangible. The 15-member squad that will represent Afghanistan in this tournament has already been announced. On October 7, Afghanistan is scheduled to begin its campaign against Bangladesh at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala.
Afghanistan's squad for the ODI World Cup 2023:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.
TAGS:- SAMIULLAH SHINWARI, ODI WORLD CUP 2023, MOHAMMAD SHAHZAD, IKRAM ALI KHIL, ICC MEN'S ODI WORLD CUP 2023, ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2023, HAZRATULLAH ZAZAI, HAMID HASSAN, GULBADIN NAIB, DAWLAT ZADRAN, ASGHAR AFGHAN, CWC 2023, AFTAB ALAM, AFGHANISTAN
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