KABUL: Rashid Khan will lead a spin-heavy Afghanistan at the next month’s Asia Cup with uncapped mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar also named in the 17-member Twenty20 squad on Sunday.
Khan was named captain and is joined by Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi as the other seasoned spinners for the Sept. 9-28 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, where pitches are expected to help slow bowlers at Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan hasn’t played a T20 since beating Zimbabwe in December last year. Afghanistan will tune-up for the Asia Cup by playing a triangular series which begins at Sharjah from Aug. 29 and also features UAE and Pakistan.
Ghazanfar hasn’t played a T20 international but has impressed in his brief ODI career, grabbing two five-wicket hauls in 11 games. He’s been playing in a number of T20 leagues around the world — notably the Indian Premier League.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen Ul Haq and Gulbadin Naib are the four pace bowling options in the Afghanistan squad.
The return of Zadran strengthens its batting line-up with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal providing firepower upfront with Karim Janat and Zadran in the middle-order.
Afghanistan is placed in a tougher Group B along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. India, Pakistan, Oman and UAE are in Group A. Afghanistan will take on Hong Kong in the opening game of the tournament at Abu Dhabi on Sept. 9.
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Squad: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Reserves: Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai
Rashid Khan to lead spin-heavy Afghanistan in Asia Cup
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Rashid Khan to lead spin-heavy Afghanistan in Asia Cup
- Afghanistan hasn’t played a T20 since beating Zimbabwe in December 2024
- They’ll prepare with a triangular series in Sharjah starting August 29, featuring UAE and Pakistan. Afghanistan is in Group B with Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka
Milan must maintain derby dominance to revive title race
- Milan are undefeated in the last six derbies, winning four
- Inter have dropped just two points in the last 15 games
MILAN: AC Milan need to maintain their recent dominance over neighbors Inter Milan in this weekend’s derby to keep alive any realistic hope of challenging for the Serie A title after losing ground to the league leaders.
Milan are undefeated in the last six derbies, winning four, and Sunday’s meeting at the San Siro feels like a must-win match for the second-placed side with Inter 10 points clear at the top.
At the start of January, three teams were battling for the Scudetto. Inter held a one-point lead over Milan, with reigning champions Napoli a further point back, but only one side has maintained title-winning form.
Inter have dropped just two points in the last 15 games to pull further away at the top while Milan have let seven points slip away in their most recent six games.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan have lost two league games all season compared to Inter’s four defeats, but drawing nine times has been their downfall and another stalemate on Sunday would be of little use to a side playing catch-up.
“In derbies there are no favorites,” Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“We saw it last season too, in the league we struggled and finished eighth, but we often won derbies. The derby is a story in itself.
“Nothing is over yet. There are 11 games left and the important thing is to stay united and give our best until the last minute.”
Inter are still without injured striker Lautaro Martinez, with Francesco Pio Esposito likely to lead the attack while Milan defender Matteo Gabbia is expected to be out for a month after undergoing a hernia operation.
DERBY DAY VERDICT
Inter’s most recent derby win came in April, 2024, where an away victory allowed them to clinch their last league title in front of the Milan fans.
That win was the last in a run of six successive victories over Milan, and while another derby victory would not seal the title this time, a gap of 13 points with 10 games left would leave Inter in cruise control for the rest of the season.
Napoli, meanwhile, are four points behind Milan, their title defense ended by two defeats in their last six games and they host Torino on Friday.
AS Roma, fourth in the standings, are at Genoa on Sunday, while Como are away to Cagliari on Saturday as Cesc Fabregas’ side have European qualification firmly in their sights.
Como are fifth, three points off Roma and one ahead of Juventus who host relegation-battling Pisa on Saturday.
