Why is Naveen-ul-Haq Listed as Commentator for AFG vs BAN Test Despite Being An Active Player? Explained

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and Bangladesh is all set to be played from October 9 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The preparations for the series are almost done with both teams looking to give their best in this rare red-ball match between them.

The AFG vs BAN Commentators list has also been released which has some of the top voices of international cricket. While most of the names were familiar, the presence of Naveen-ul-Haq came as a surprise.

The Afghanistan fast bowler is still an active player in international cricket, which makes his inclusion in this list even more shocking. This also raised speculations about the potential Naveen ul Haq retirement.

Why is Naveen-ul-Haq in Commentators List For AFG vs BAN Test?

Naveen-ul-Haq is not a part of Afghanistan's squad for the one-off Test against Bangladesh. Hence, he is participatiing as a special guest analyst role for this game. Despite being a key bowler for Afghanistan in white-ball cricket, he is not a regular in red-ball fixtures.

Naveen has played 63 white-ball matches so far in his international career, however, he is yet to make his Test debut. He is seen as a white-ball specialist but hasn't been considered for the longest format of the game so far.

This will also be Naveen ul Haq commentary debut, marking a big moment for him. Since he is already a part of the team's set-up, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) decided to bring him in the commentary panel for the AFG vs BAN Test.

This will also help him gain valuable experience of working alongside the best cricket commentators in the world like Ramiz Raja, Andrew Leonard, Farveez Maharoof, and many more.

Is Naveen-ul-Haq Retired?

Usually, the players who are retired take up the role in the commentary box. This made the fans wonder whether Naveen-ul-Haq has retired, which allowed him to become the commentator. However, he still remains an active international cricketer.

Naveen-ul-Haq is arguably one of the best T20 bowlers in the world right now. His change of pace and variations makes him such a key bowler in white-ball cricket, especially at the death. He played a key role in Afghanistan's race to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.