Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi has been named in the Afghanistan cricket team’s 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will begin on February 19.
Since his international debut in March 2021, Fazalhaq Farooqi, part of the Rajasthan Royals squad for the Indian Premier League, has been an integral member of Afghanistan’s bowling unit.
The 24-year-old fast bowler can swing the ball both ways and boasts impressive numbers in international cricket.
In T20 Internationals, Farooqi has claimed 54 wickets in 43 games at an economy of 6.70 and an average of 19.09.
In 50-over ODI cricket - the format for Champions Trophy 2025 - Farooqi has picked 50 wickets in 39 matches at an economy of 5.77 and an average of 31.78.
The last ICC event that Farooqi participated in saw him shine and finish as one of the best bowlers in the tournament. With 17 wickets in eight matches, Farooqi finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with Arshdeep Singh at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Farooqi has also started this year on a strong note, picking up 5/16 in MI Emirates’ opening match of the International League T20 (ILT20) against Dubai Capitals. These are the best figures by a bowler in ILT20 history.
While the ICC Champions Trophy begins on February 19, Afghanistan’s first match will take place on February 21 against South Africa in Karachi.
Hashmatullah Shahidi has been named the captain of the squad with experienced campaigners like Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad also in the mix.
Afghanistan Champions Trophy 2025 squad
Afghanistan cricket team: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran
Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami
