Afghanistan has announced the squad for the Ireland ODI series. The announced squad features mystery spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Nangeyalia Kharote. Notably, it will be their first assignment with the senior team after featuring in the U19 World Cup for Afghanistan & excelling in their game.
Senior spinners Rashid Khan (back surgery) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (right phalanx sprain) continue to recover from injuries. And thus they will miss the series against Ireland.
Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman are rested due to Injuries
Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, the chief selector of the ACB, mentioned in a statement that Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are still in the process of recovering from their injuries and won’t be available for selection. However, he added that they have decided to include some promising young players like Nangeyalia Kharote and Bilal Sami in the squad. Another notable addition is Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, whose talent shone brightly during the U19 World Cup. Ghazanfar will be covering for Mujeeb Ur Rahman during the upcoming ODI series against Ireland.
Fast bowler, Bilal Sami who was among the reserves for Afghanistan in their recent ODI series against Sri Lanka was promoted to the main squad. He is also an uncapped player in International Cricket. Overall he has played 10 List A matches scalping 23 wickets at an average of 21.60 economy rate of 6.21.
On the other hand, wrist-spinner Qais Ahmad, who had struggled for control in Sri Lanka, has been demoted to the reserves. Zia Ur Rahman and Shahidullah Kamal are the other reserve players in the side.
Afghanistan squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik
Reserves: Zia Ur Rahman, Shahidullah Kamal, Qais Ahmad
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