The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced the national team squads for the upcoming one-off Test and three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. Afghanistan, with several star players, will play multi-format matches against Zimbabwe from October 20 to November 2 at the Harare Sports Club.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have faced each other in four test matches so far, with both teams winning two each. The Afghan cricket team recently played a white-ball series against Bangladesh. They lost the three-match T20I series, but bounced back to whitewash the three-match ODI series in Bangladesh.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to lead Afghanistan in one-off Test against Zimbabwe
On Wednesday, October 15, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced the squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Hashmatullah Shahidi was named captain for the match.
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Left-arm pacer Bashir Ahmad retained his place, while Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Khalil Gurbaz earned their maiden call-ups after impressive performances in domestic red-ball cricket. Left-arm spinner Shahidullah Kamal has been included in the squad.
The Afghan Test Team: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai (WK), Ikram Alikhel (WK), Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz and Bashir Ahmed.
Reserves: Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Sediqullah Atal and Shams Ur Rahman
Rashid Khan to lead Afghanistan in T20I series Against Zimbabwe
Rashid Khan has rested from the upcoming Test as a precautionary measure to manage his workload and ensure optimal performances for future international matches. However, the veteran leg-spinner will lead the team in the T20I series later this month.
Shahidullah Kamal has also been included following his strong performances in the SCL season, while middle-order hitter Ijaz Ahmadzai returns after making his T20I debut in 2024. AM Ghazanfar and Faridoon Dawoodzai have been named in the reserve pool for the series.
Afghanistan T20I team: Rashid Khan (C), Ibrahim Zadran (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Reserves: AM Ghazanfar and Faridoon Dawoodzai
We implemented our plans successfully – CEO of Afghanistan Cricket Board
Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan said the board’s long-term development programs at national cricket and high performance centers have helped the national team play consecutive bilateral series with positive results.
“Along with our domestic cricket and high performance center programs, we have successfully implemented our plans in international cricket. As a result, we are now consistently playing bilateral series one after the other, and the long-term results of our efforts have been very positive so far,” Naseeb Khan said.
“After the Bangladesh series organized by the ACB, our national team will travel to Zimbabwe, where they will play a Test match and a T20I series against the host country. Thereafter, we will also play series against other countries in sequence,” he added.
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