Star spinner Rashid Khan is set to play his first test match after three years as ACB named the Afghanistan squad for the upcoming test series in Zimbabwe.
Rashid has taken a break in red-ball cricket on medical advice due to a groin injury. Rashid’s last test which also came against Zimbabwe was back in March 2021 in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, seven uncapped players, including all-rounder Ismat Alam, left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad and left-arm Bashir Ahmad Afghan. The trio will be joining Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Riaz Hassan and Sediqullah Atal who are yet to represent Afghanistan in Test Cricket.
Rashid Khan returns to the Test Squad to face Zimbabwe! 🚨
Dive into the link below as ACB name #AfghanAtalan‘s squad for the two-match Test Series against Zimbabwe, starting December 26 in Bulawayo. 🤩
🔗: https://t.co/PFeQIvoH94#AfghanAtalan | #ZIMvAFG |… pic.twitter.com/F2QVSGfnB7
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 16, 2024
“We have thoroughly monitored the proceedings and have picked the squad which includes several new faces, including Ismat Alam, Bashir Ahmad, and Zahir Shehzad, who have performed well during the recent Ahmad Shah Abdali first-class tournament.”
Meanwhile Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman and Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai will be part of reserve players.
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott who received a contract extension, has made himself unavailable for the test and T20I legs due to personal reasons.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the team, with Rahmat Shah named as Vice captain.
Afghanistan has secured a 2-1 T20I series win after a 3 wicket win in the third match. The ODI leg is set to begin on December 17 at Harare Sport Club.
The first match of the test series will begin on December 26 at Queens Sports Club.
Afghanistan Squad for Zimbabwe Tests: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Ikram Alikhail (wk), Afsar Zazai (wk), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, and Fareed Ahmad Malik
