Afghanistan has made a surprising decision by leaving out the seasoned allrounder Mohammad Nabi from their T20I line-up and excluding middle-order batsman Darwish Rasooli from both the ODI and T20I squads. This determination comes as Afghanistan preps for an intense schedule in the UAE, involving Tests against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, an ODI tri-series with these teams, and three T20Is against Zimbabwe.
All matches are slated for venues in the UAE. The action kicks off on 9 October in Abu Dhabi with a single Test against Bangladesh, marking Rahmat Shah’s inaugural full-time captaincy stint in Tests, taking the role from Hashmatullah Shahidi. Continued rest is advised for Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran from Tests due to medical reasons, while Zia-ur-Rehman, the left-arm spinner, makes his comeback after a lengthy injury break of 14 months.
The Test squad sees the return of fast-bowling allrounder Ismat Alam, middle-order batter Shahidullah, fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai, and legspinner Khalil Gurbaz. Alam missed the last Test against India, whereas Shahidullah and Ahmadzai earn their spots after impressive performances in the Ahmad Shah Abdali Tournament, a domestic first-class competition in Afghanistan.
Abdullah Tarakhail, a 25-year-old fast bowler, is set to make his T20I debut following outstanding performances in the Shpageeza Cricket League, where he took ten wickets over seven matches. He has also performed well in the Kabul Premier League and the Ahmad Shah Abdali Tournament.
Adding to the T20I squad, seam-bowling allrounder Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and Shahidullah earn recalls. Fareed Ahmad has been elevated to the primary T20I squad following his role as a reserve in India’s recent T20I series.
Following the Test with Bangladesh, Afghanistan will engage in the ODI tri-series with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, scheduled from 17 to 23 October in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. They will then face Zimbabwe in three T20Is (27 October to 1 November) and two Tests (5 to 13 November) in Sharjah.
### Afghanistan Test Squad for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe:
– Rahmat Shah (captain)
– Ikram Alikhil (vice-captain & wicketkeeper)
– Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper)
– 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
– Yamin Ahmadzai
Reserves: Baheer Shah Mahboob, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, Bilal Sami, Bashir Ahmad.
### Afghanistan ODI Squad for Tri-Series Against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe:
– Rahmat Shah (captain)
– Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vice-captain & wicketkeeper)
– Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper)
– Sediqullah Atal
– Ibrahim Zadran
– Hashmatullah Shahidi
– Azmatullah Omarzai
– Mohammad Nabi
– Rashid Khan
– Nangyalai Khan
– AM Ghazanfar
– Bilal Sami
– Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
– Fazal Haq Farooqi
– Yamin Ahmadzai
Travelling Reserve: Qais Ahmad.
### Afghanistan T20I Squad for Zimbabwe:
– Ibrahim Zadran (captain)
– Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper)
– Noor Rahman (wicketkeeper)
– Sediqullah Atal
– Mohammad Akram
– Shahidullah Kamal
– Ijaz Ahmadzai
– Azmatullah Omarzai
– Abdullah Tarakhail
– Rashid Khan
– Noor Ahmad
– Mujeeb Ur Rahman
– Fazal Haq Farooqi
– Abdullah Ahmadzai
– Farid Ahmad Malik
Reserves: Faridoon Dawoodzai, Qais Ahmad, Nangyalai Khan.
This announcement signifies an important phase in Afghanistan’s cricketing calendar, with strategic player selections designed to balance experience and emerging talent.
