Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024: Three Afghanistan A players to watch out for ft. Qais Ahmad

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As Afghanistan A prepare for the highly anticipated Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, their squad is brimming with both emerging talents and a few familiar names who have already tasted international cricket.

The Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 will start on Friday, October 18, and will be hosted in Oman. The tournament will feature Asian heavyweights such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, among others.

With Afghanistan A's balanced squad featuring a mix of spin and pace bowling, along with promising batting talents, they are expected to challenge the tournament favourites for the trophy. Here are three Afghan players to watch out for who could make a significant impact during the upcoming Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024.

3. Abdul Rahman

Abdul Rahman Rahmani is a player who has seen a steady rise through the ranks, making his ODI debut earlier in 2023 against Bangladesh. Though the 22-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler has only picked up one wicket in three ODIs thus far, his domestic performances indicate that he is capable of much more.

Rahman, known for his control and ability to extract movement from the pitch, has been a key performer in the domestic four-day competitions. Now given a chance of leading Adghanistan's bowling attack at the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, Rahman will be keen to prove himself on the international stage.

2. Mohammad Ishaq

At just 19 years of age, talented wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Ishaq has already played in four T20Is for Afghanistan, and his domestic performances have highlighted his potential to be the next big thing in Afghan cricket.

A right-handed batsman with the ability to accelerate the innings, Ishaq has shown maturity beyond his years. He also has the numbers to back up his talent, with 654 runs in 25 List A matches, including five fifties.

In the upcoming tournament, his dual role as a reliable middle-order batter and a capable keeper makes him a vital asset to the Afghanistan A team.

1. Qais Ahmad

At the helm of Afghanistan A's bowling attack is Qais Ahmad, a leg-spinner who has become a crucial part of Afghanistan's cricket setup. Ahmad, 24, is already an experienced campaigner, having represented his country in all three formats. Known for his ability to bowl deceptive googlies, Qais has been a standout performer since the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, where he was Afghanistan's leading wicket-taker.

Ahmad made his Test debut in 2019 against Bangladesh, picking up one wicket. Despite his sporadic international appearances since then, Ahmad has had stints in various T20 leagues worldwide, including the Big Bash League and Caribbean Premier League.

As the team's bowling spearhead, Ahmad is expected to lead the charge and make a compelling case for his return to the full Afghan side.