Offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has returned to the Afghanistan Squad for the T20I leg of the Zimbabwe tour, which start this month.
Due to a right Phalanx sprain, the 23-year-old hasn’t played for Afghanistan since June, have returned to competitive cricket for the first time in five months at Abu Dhabi T10 on November 21.
Meanwhile, top-order Zubaid Akbari earned his maiden call-up to the Afghanistan squad for T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour, while another-top order batter Darwish Rasooli also returned for the upcoming tour.
However, the side will be missing the services of the Ibrahim Zadran who is still recovering from the ankle surgery after he had recently undergone in England.
Happy with our white-ball lineups for the Zimbabwe tour!? 🏏
Get all the details about our T20I and ODI squads and learn about the slight schedule adjustment for the upcoming white-ball games here: 👉 https://t.co/raSe3DCF9b#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG |… pic.twitter.com/GLy3XXBXWr
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 1, 2024
Akbari has been impressive from emerging teams Asia Cup T20 tournament where he was the fourth highest run getter and the second highest for the Afghanistan A with 137 runs at a strike rate of 131.73.
Rasooli has played seven T20Is with Afghanistan A clinched thei maiden emerging teams Asia Cup T20 in Oman earlier this year. Rasooli last T20Is was against UAE in Sharjah in January this year.
Meanwhile Riaz Hassan and Noor Ahmad has been named in the T20I squad
“It’s a great feeling to see our frontline spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, recover from his injury and be available for selection. He is an essential member of our squad, and we hope he continues to shine brightly for Afghanistan.”
“Additionally, Zubaid Akbari and Darwish Rasooli have been consistent performers, not only in domestic cricket but also in the recently concluded ACC Emerging Teams Cup, where Afghanistan claimed the title.”
“We have included both players in the T20I squad and wish them the very best for the upcoming series,” said ACB interim chief selector Ahmad Shah.
The white-ball leg of the Zimbabwe tour consists of three T20Is, ODIs and two tests to be played between December 11 and January 06, 2025.
Afghanistan T20I squad for Zimbabwe tour: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Zubaid Akbari, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad and Naveen Ul Haq
Afghanistan ODI squad for Zimbabwe tour: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik
