ICC World Cup 2015: Key Players from Afghanistan

The team, currently ranked 12th in the ODIs, will be led by Mohammad Nabi. This will be Afghanistan's maiden appearance in a World Cup, although the side has some big-match experience, having taken part in World Twenty20 tournaments earlier.

Here's a look at the key players from Afghanistan in the World Cup:

Mohammad Nabi

Playing role: All-rounder

The 29-year-old player hails from a well-to-do family that migrated to Peshawar, Pakistan during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. He has been a key player for the up-and-coming Afghan team, and has been influential in Afghanistan's rapid rise through the ranks of international cricket.

Nabi claimed 11 wickets during the 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Three, helping Afghanistan finish top and to progress to the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier. After finishing 5th and gaining One Day International status Nabi made his ODI debut against Scotland top scoring for Afghanistan with 58 runs.

In Afghanistan's first match of the Intercontinental Cup, which was Afghanistan's debut first-class match, Nabi made 102 in Afghanistan's first innings against a Zimbabwe XI in a team total of 427 all out. His greatest achievement is that he is ranked 8th among the Top 10 All-rounders in ICC ODI Rankings for All-rounders.

Nawroz Mangal

Playing role: Middle-order batsman

The 30-year-old Kabul player is one of the most experienced campaigners in the Afghanistan squad for the World Cup. A middle-order batsman, Mangal might not be an ideal stroke-maker but his presence provides the much-needed solidity to the relatively weak middle-order.

Mangal made his international debut for Afghanistan against Oman in the 2004 ACC Trophy. During the tournament, Mangal was Afghanistan's leading run scorer with 271 runs. In 2013, Mangal notched up his maiden ODI hundred against Scotland and powered his side to an emphatic seven-wicket win. His second ODI hundred came against UAE where he smashed 129 runs while batting up the order.

With just under 1000 runs including two hundreds and four fifties, Mangal's experience will be key to Afghanistan's success in the World Cup.

Samiullah Shenwari

Playing role: All-rounder

The 27-year-old all-rounder has been one of the key members for Afghanistan over the past few years in cricket. A right-handed batsman and a leg-break bowler, Samiullah has been a consistent performer for the rapidly rising Afghan cricket team.

In 2010, Samiullah registered his best bowling figures in ODIs against Canada where he ended the game with 4/31 including three maidens in his 10 overs. In 2014, he slammed an unbeaten 68-ball 82 to power Afghanistan to a 70-run win over UAE.

With over 1000 runs and 41 wickets in 44 ODIs, Samiullah will be more than handful for Afghanistan in the upcoming World Cup.

Najibullah Zadran

Playing role: Middle-order batsman

The 21-year-old is one of the upcoming players in the Afghanistan cricket team. A left-handed batsman and a right-arm off-spinner, Zadran has been a consistent performer in his relatively short cricketing career.

Najibullah produced the key performance for Afghanistan with his maiden ODI fifty, a 50-ball 83, which revived a stuttering innings and gave his team a total that was expertly defended against Ireland in 2015. Though he is relatively new on the international circuit, Najibullah is full of promise and will be pivotal in Afghanistan's campaign in the upcoming World Cup.

Hamid Hassan

Playing role: Right-arm fast bowler

The 27-year-old speedster is one of the bowling mainstays in the Afghan squad for the World Cup. With a decent height and smooth run-up, Hamid's fast-arm surprises batsmen with a natural full-of-a-length delivery. His ability to swing the ball both ways only makes him more dangerous with the new ball.

In 2007, Hamid became the first-ever Afghanistan cricketer to play at Lord's when he represented MCC against a select Europe XI to end the game with the figures of 1/23. He also represented Afghanistan in the 2009 World Cup Qualifiers, where his whippy action on a corrugated pitch earned him his first five-wicket haul, helping his side upset the tournament favourites Ireland.

Hamid registered his best bowling figures of 5/45 against UAE in 2014, but couldn't save the game for his side. With 46 wickets at 18.93 and an economy rate of 4.44 in 24 ODIs, Afghanistan will be counting on their bowling spearhead Hamid to provide early breakthroughs in the upcoming World Cup.

Squad: Afsar Zazai(wk), Aftab Alam, Asghar Stanekzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Javed Ahmadi, Merwais Ashraf, Mohammad Nabi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Nawroz Mangal, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani