Afghanistan have revealed their 16-member squad for the forthcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against Ireland, set to commence on March 07 in Sharjah. This announcement follows a recent encounter between the two teams in a one-off Test match, where Ireland emerged victorious, marking their maiden triumph in the longest format.
Absence of star spinners
Afghanistan will be deprived of the services of their two key spinners, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, during the impending three-match ODI series. Rashid is sidelined due to a back surgery, while Mujeeb has been recovering from a right phalanx sprain, rendering them unfit for the series scheduled to begin next week.
Inclusion of new faces
Despite the absence of their star spin duo, the Afghan side has introduced three fresh faces into the squad. Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Nangyal Kharoti, off-spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar – who showcased his skills at the recently-concluded U19 World Cup 2024 – and fast bowler Bilal Sami are set to potentially make their international debut.
“Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman continue to recover from their respective injuries and are unavailable for selection. However, we have included some of the top-performing youngsters in Nangyal Kharoti and Bilal Sami. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar is a very talented cricketer and has demonstrated excellent skills during the U19 World Cup. He will provide cover for Mujeeb Ur Rahman,” said ACB chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil in a statement.
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Leadership and composition
Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the Afghan side, comprising notable names such as Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazal Haq Farooqi, and Gulbadin Naib.
Afghanistan’s ODI squad for Ireland:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Nangyal Kharoti, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.
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