Three New Faces in Afghanistan Test Squad for India Match, Rashid and Ibrahim Rested

Nangyal Kharotai, Bilal Sami and Rahmanullah Zadran have earned their maiden call-ups to Afghanistan’s Test squad. Spinner Qais Ahmad has also returned to the side for the one-off Test against India. However, batter Ibrahim Zadran and star leg-spinner Rashid Khan have been rested. Afghanistan last played a Test match against Zimbabwe in October 2025.

It is understood that Ibrahim Zadran is recovering from a leg injury. Meanwhile, Rashid Khan had revealed a few months ago that doctors advised him to reduce his workload in red-ball cricket. Despite medical advice, he played in the Test against Zimbabwe last year. Rashid later said that his doctors were shocked after learning he had bowled more than 55 overs in a single innings.

As Afghanistan are not part of the World Test Championship, Rashid has limited his participation in the longer format. However, both he and Ibrahim will feature in the three-match ODI series against India following the Test.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain Afghanistan in the one-off Test against India, scheduled to be played in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10. He will also lead the side in the three-match ODI series, set to take place from June 13 to 20.

This will be only Afghanistan’s second-ever Test against India. Afghanistan made their Test debut against India in 2018, suffering an innings and 262-run defeat. Since then, they have won four of their next ten Tests.

Afghanistan Test Squad:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi and Saleem Safi.

Afghanistan ODI Squad:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik and Bilal Sami.