The Afghanistan bowler Naveen Ul Haq has been ruled out of the remainder of the Asia Cup 2025 as he is still recovering from a shoulder injury and has been declared unfit by the medical team.
The ACB has named Abdollah Ahmadzai as Naveen Ul Haq’s replacement. “Naveen will continue to undergo intensive treatment and rehabilitation until he is fully fit,” the statement said.
“The ACB wishes Naveen Ul Haq a speedy recovery and extends its best wishes to Abdullah Ahmadzai for the matches ahead,” the board said in a statement.
Naveen will be returning home to continue his intensive treatment and rehabilitation. Ahmadzai was in the reserves for the Asia Cup and was a part of the UAE tri-series with Naveen out of action.
He made his international debut in the series also the only T20I where he picked 1 wicket for 31 runs in three overs.
🚨 SQUAD UPDATE 🚨
Afghanistan’s veteran fast bowler, Naveen Ul Haq, has been ruled out of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025. 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… pic.twitter.com/Sz4rJyV6k5
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 15, 2025
Naveen Ul Haq has played for Afghanistan in 2024 against Zimabwe in T20I in Harare. He was part of the SA20 earlier this year, taking five wickets in eight games for Durban’s Super Giants.
He also played MLC in June where he took eight wickets in five games for tournament champions MI New York.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Faree Ahmad are the other specialists quick in the squad, with Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat the fast bowling all-rounder.
Afghanistan has played one match in the Asia Cup 2025 where they beat Hong Kong by 94 runs and secured top spot in the group B of the Asia Cup 2025 points table.
Afghanistan will play their next Asia Cup game against Bangladesh on September 16 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium before playing against Sri Lanka on September 18 at Abu Dhabi.
