Afghanistan Announce Squad for Bangladesh Series, Rahmat and Ibrahim to Lead, Nabi Left Out

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its Test, ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming full-fledged home series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe during the October-November window. Rahmat Shah will lead the Test and ODI sides, while Ibrahim Zadran will captain the T20I team.

The one-off Test between Bangladesh and Afghanistan will begin on October 9 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. From October 17 to 23, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will host an ODI tri-nation series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Afghanistan will then play three T20Is and two Tests against Zimbabwe.

Under newly appointed Test captain Rahmat Shah, experienced pacer Yamin Ahmadzai and top-order batter Shahidullah Kamal have returned to the red-ball squad. Both players earned recalls after impressive performances in the ongoing Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class competition, where they are currently among the leading run-scorers and wicket-takers. Left-arm spinner Ziaur Rahman Akbar has also returned after recovering from injury. However, Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran have been rested from long-format cricket on medical advice.

Test Squad:

Rahmat Shah (captain), Ikram Alikhil (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Salim Safi, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Yamin Ahmadzai.

The Afghan board is placing significant importance on the tri-nation series as part of its preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi have returned to the ODI squad. In the fast-bowling department, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Bilal Sami will be joined by Yamin Ahmadzai, who has been in excellent form.

ODI Squad:

Rahmat Shah (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai.

T20I Squad:

Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Noor Rahman (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Ejaz Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdullah Tarakhil, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Farid Ahmad Malik.