Afghanistan announced Test and T20I squads for Zimbabwe tour

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The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday unveiled its squads for the historic Zimbabwe tour, featuring a one-off Test and a three-match T20I series, set to commence on October 20 at the Harare Sports Club.

In a strategic move, Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain the Test side, as Rashid Khan has been rested to prioritize his recovery and long-term well-being ahead of upcoming international commitments. Rashid, however, will return to lead the team in the T20I series.

The Test squad includes familiar faces such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Bahir Shah, alongside promising additions from domestic cricket. Left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad, who impressed in Afghanistan’s recent white-ball fixtures, retains his spot. Meanwhile, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Sharafuddin Ashraf and leg spinner Khalil Gurbaz, standout performers from the domestic red-ball season, have earned call-ups. Spin all-rounder Shahidullah Kamal has been included in both squads, highlighting his growing influence.

The T20I squad, captained by Rashid Khan with Ibrahim Zadran as vice-captain, features a solid blend of experience and emerging talent. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, who made his T20I debut in 2024, makes a return after an impressive domestic run, while Shahidullah Kamal’s consistent all-round performances in the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL) have earned him a recall.

The squad also features T20 specialists like Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad, making it a formidable lineup for the series against Zimbabwe.

ACB CEO Naseeb Khan expressed satisfaction with Afghanistan’s consistent cricketing growth, noting that the team’s participation in consecutive bilateral series reflects the success of the board’s long-term strategy.

“Following the Bangladesh series hosted by ACB, our national team will travel to Zimbabwe for a Test and T20I series. Subsequently, we’ll play more international series as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our cricketing calendar,” Khan said in his official statement.

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Test: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran (vc), Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhel, Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, Bashir Ahmad.

Reserves: Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Sediqullah Atal, Shams Ur Rahman

T20I: Rashid Khan (c), Ibrahim Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Reserves: Allah Ghazanfar, Faridoon Dawoodzai

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