Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has unveiled their 16-member squad for the upcoming two-match T20I series against Bangladesh, set to commence on July 14 at the Sylhet District Stadium. The squad announcement sees the return of skipper Rashid Khan and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shahzad, adding strength and experience to the Afghan team.
Rashid, who was given a rest during the one-off Test match against Bangladesh in Mirpur last month, will once again lead the T20I side. Known for his exceptional spin bowling skills and leadership qualities, Rashid’s return will undoubtedly bolster Afghanistan’s chances in the limited-overs battle.
Similarly, Shahzad, who last represented Afghanistan in international cricket during the 2021 T20 World Cup has made his comeback on the bank of impressive form in domestic cricket. Joining Rashid and Shahzad in the squad are seasoned campaigners Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran, who bring a wealth of experience and skill to the team.
The selection panel, headed by ACB’s chief selector Asadullah Khan, emphasized the importance of assessing players ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the USA and the West Indies in 2024.
“We brought Shahzad as we feel that we should have an attacking batter as a back-up for the opening slot because anything can happen in cricket. He is currently the best option and he also performed very well in the domestic tournament. He shows that he is ready for T20Is and we are starting the process now for the next T20 World Cup and we will see the players on typical roles and later we will decide,” Asadullah said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“We brought Momand because he has very good pace and showed that in camps and domestic cricket. As I said before, we are looking at the players so that we can decide regarding the final squad for the World Cup,” he added.
Afghanistan squad: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Sediq Atal, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Wafadar Momand, Farid Ahmad, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
