Rashid Khan has been rested for the lone Test but will return for the T20I series.
Afghanistan are being cautious with one of their star players, Rashid Khan. After playing six matches against Bangladesh in just two weeks, the leg-spinner has been given a break. Afghanistan will play the one-off Test in Zimbabwe without him.
On Wednesday, Afghanistan announced their squads for the Zimbabwe tour, including both the Test and T20I teams. Rashid will rejoin the national side for the T20I series.
The Test squad features a mix of experienced players and new faces. Right-arm pacer Ziaur Rahman, left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, and leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz have earned Test call-ups after strong performances in domestic red-ball cricket.
Rehmat Shah, who suffered an injury during the second ODI against Bangladesh, is unavailable for the Test squad.
Left-arm spinning all-rounder Shahidullah has secured his place in both the Test and T20I teams with consistent performances. Left-arm pacer Bashir Ahmad, who played in the recently concluded white-ball series against Bangladesh, is included in both squads as well.
The Test squad, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, also includes experienced players like Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The lone Test in Harare will begin on October 20.
In the T20I squad, Ibrahim Zadran will serve as Rashid’s deputy. 2024 debutant Ejaz Ahmad Ahmadzai returns, while experienced players Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujib ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad are also included, along with pacers Farid Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Afghanistan lost the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh but later whitewashed them 3-0 in the ODI series.
In Zimbabwe, Afghanistan will play three T20Is on October 29, 31, and November 2, all in Harare.
Afghanistan Test Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Jazai, Ikram Alikhil, Bahir Shah, Shahidullah, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ziaur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalili Gurbaz, Bashir Ahmad.
Reserves: Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Sedikullah Atal, Shams ur Rahman.
Afghanistan T20I Squad
Rashid Khan (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sedikullah Atal, Darvish Rasooli, Shahidullah, Ejaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujib ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Farid Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Reserves: AM Gazanfar, Faridun Dawoodzai.
