Afghanistan’s cricket team has named a squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, featuring promising left-hand batter Zubaid Akbari and the returning Mujeeb Ur Rahman. The team looks to capitalize on their recent successes, despite the absence of star opener Ibrahim Zadran. CEO Naseeb Khan and Interim Chief Selector Ahmad Shah expressed confidence in the selected players as they prepare for a series of T20I and ODI matches.
Zubaid Akbari, an emerging left-hand batter, has achieved a significant milestone with his first call-up to the Afghanistan T20I squad, following impressive performances in domestic cricket. His contributions during the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Asia Cup have highlighted his talent and potential. The team also welcomes back Darwish Rasooli, who played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s championship success in the same tournament. Star spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman will return to the squad after recovering from an injury, set to participate in both T20I and ODI formats.
Despite the excitement surrounding the squad, star opener Ibrahim Zadran remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from recent ankle surgery. The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s CEO, Naseeb Khan, expressed optimism regarding the team’s strong historical performance in Zimbabwe, stating, “Afghanistan have a strong history in Zimbabwe, and we look forward to another memorable tour.”
Ahmad Shah, the Interim Chief Selector, commended the team’s depth and highlighted the critical return of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, stating his belief in the skills of newcomers Akbari and Rasooli, who have proven their worth. Afghanistan’s latest white-ball series concluded successfully, with the team securing a 2-1 ODI victory over Bangladesh.
For the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, the T20I squad is as follows: Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Ishaq, Sediqullah Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Zubaid Akbari, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, and Naveen Ul Haq. The ODI squad includes Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, and Farid Ahmad Malik.
The fixtures for the series are as follows: the first T20I on December 11, the second T20I on December 13, and the third T20I on December 14, followed by the first ODI on December 17, the second ODI on December 19, and the third ODI on December 21, culminating in a two-Test series scheduled to start on December 26 and January 2, 2024.
This announcement comes on the heels of Afghanistan’s recent cricket successes, particularly highlighted by their strong performance in domestic tournaments and their triumph at the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Asia Cup. The tour to Zimbabwe provides an opportunity for Afghanistan to showcase their talent on an international stage, particularly as they integrate new players and welcome back key team members from injury. The significance of the upcoming matches is underscored by the country’s historical successes against Zimbabwe. Cricket has been growing significantly in Afghanistan, with recent performances indicating a strengthening of their national squad as they prepare for important international fixtures.
In summary, Afghanistan’s cricket team is poised for a promising tour of Zimbabwe, bolstered by emerging talents like Zubaid Akbari and seasoned players such as Mujeeb Ur Rahman. The input from CEO Naseeb Khan and Interim Chief Selector Ahmad Shah reflects confidence in the squad’s capabilities. With a set of favorable fixtures ahead, Afghanistan aims to build on their recent successes and strive for further accomplishments on the international stage.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
