Afghanistan announce squads for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe series

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Thursday (October 1) announced the squads for the upcoming white-ball and Test series. The ACB named the squads for Afghanistan’s upcoming Test against Bangladesh and the ODI Tri-Nation Series featuring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

They have also announced the squads for the three-match T20I series and the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, with Afghanistan gearing up for a busy season across all three formats. Earlier, England show hypocrisy as players set to get NOCs for Afghanistan Premier League.

Afghanistan announce squads for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe Series

The Afghanistan National Cricket Team’s busy schedule will start with a one-off Test against Bangladesh that will be played in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 13. They will then play an ODI Tri-Nation Series with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe before facing Zimbabwe in three T20Is and two tests.

Rahmat Shah will lead Afghanistan in both Tests and ODIs after recently taking charge of the two formats. He will make his full-time Test captaincy debut with the Bangladesh series. Well, Ismat Alam returns to the Test squad after missing the Test against India.

Shahidullah Kamal and Yamin Ahmadzai have also earned recalls after strong performances in the Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament. Shahidullah has scored 538 runs at 76.85, while Yamin has taken 42 wickets at 12.73 in that red-ball tournament.

Mohammad Nabi dropped from T20I side, Rashid Khan rested from Test matches

Zia Ur Rahman Akbar is back in the Test squad after recovering from a long-term injury, while leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz has also been recalled for the upcoming Test matches. Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran will continue to be rested from Test cricket following medical advice.

In white-ball cricket, Darwish Rasooli has been left out of the ODI and T20I squads, while Mohammad Nabi was also dropped from the T20I team. Amid this, ICC changes Cricket rules from October 1, batters and fielders face strict conditions.

Mohammad Akram, Abdullah Tarakhil, Ijaz Ahmadzai, and Shahidullah Kamal have earned T20I call-ups, while Fareed Ahmad Malik has been promoted from the reserves to the main 15-member squad.

Afghanistan Test squad vs BAN and ZIM:

Rahmat Shah (C), Ikram Alikhail (VC & WK), Afsar Zazai (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and Yamin Ahmadzai.

Reserves: Baheer Shah Mahboob, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, Bilal Sami and Bashir Ahmad.

Afghanistan squad for the ODI Tri-Nation series:

Rahmat Shah (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (VC & WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohamamd Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai.

Travelling Reserve: Qais Ahmad

Afghanistan T20I squad for Zimbabwe series:

Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdullah Tarakhil, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Farid Ahmad Malik.

Reserves: Faridoon Dawoodzai, Qais Ahmad and Nangyalai Khan.

Here's the full schedule: