AFG vs PAK: Afghanistan Squad For ODI Series Against Pakistan Announced

On Sunday, August 6, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced an 18-man squad for the upcoming home ODI series against Pakistan National Cricket Team.

The ODI matches between the Afghans and the Men In Green are set to be hosted entirely by Sri Lanka in August. The matches are set to be held on August 22, 24 and 26. The first two matches are set to be held in Hambantota and the last match will be played in Colombo.

The last time these two teams faced each other in 50-over cricket was during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. So far the Men In Green have been undefeated against Afghanistan in ODIs.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan have made a few notable changes to their squad for the forthcoming series against the Men In Green. Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Izharulhaq Naveed have been dropped while Mohammad Saleem Safi and Wafadar Momand have been retained.

Notably, the aforementioned players were part of Afghanistan’s recent ODI tour to Bangladesh. Also, the star spinner Noor Ahmad has made his comeback to the side for the series.

Our concentration is to prepare the team for the upcoming two big events of Asia Cup and the World Cup 2023 – Asadullah Khan

ACB Chief Selector Mr. Asadullah Khan in an official statement released by the board said that the entire purpose of organising the series against Pakistan was to prepare for the Asia Cup 2023 and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. He also revealed that the squad will undergo a week-long conditioning camp ahead of the Pakistan ODIs.

“Our whole concentration is to prepare the team for the upcoming two big events of Asia Cup and the World Cup 2023. This three-match ODI series against Pakistan provides us with a wonderful opportunity to prepare the team for the forthcoming two events,” he said.

“The preparations for the Pakistan series are progressing well; the players have recently performed well in the Kabul Camp, which has been supervised by ACB’s HPC staff. The team will also undergo a week-long conditioning camp prior to the Pakistan Series.”

Afghanistan Squad For ODI Series vs Pakistan

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Wafadar Momand.

Reserves: Farid Ahmad Malik and Shahidullah Kamal.