Afghanistan has named its ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, set to take place in Sharjah. Unfortunately, top-order batsman Ibrahim Zadran has been sidelined due to a left ankle injury. The

Afghanistan’s ODI Squad vs South Africa: Rashid Khan Returns, Ibrahim Zadran Injured

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Afghanistan’s ODI Squad vs South Africa

 

Cricket Buzz Today: Afghanistan has named its ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, set to take place in Sharjah. Unfortunately, top-order batsman Ibrahim Zadran has been sidelined due to a left ankle injury. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed this news while unveiling the squad on Thursday. Additionally, star spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman remains unavailable as he continues to recover from a right phalanx injury.

In response to these setbacks, the Afghanistan selectors have called up several promising domestic players. Abdul Malik, a top-order batsman with an impressive track record, has been added to the squad, while Darwish Rasooli, who has previously represented Afghanistan in seven T20 internationals, makes a return.

“Mujeeb Ur Rahman is still in recovery and won’t be able to participate,” explained ACB chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil. “Ibrahim Zadran is also out for the South Africa series after suffering an ankle injury. However, we have bolstered our squad by bringing in young talent like Abdul Malik and Darwish Rasooli. We’ve also included Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, a skilled player who will cover Mujeeb’s absence during the series.”

A major highlight of the squad announcement is the return of star all-rounder Rashid Khan, who missed the previous ODI series against Ireland. This series marks a significant occasion, as it will be the first time Afghanistan and South Africa face off in a bilateral ODI series. The squad otherwise remains largely unchanged from the team that defeated Ireland 2-0 in their last ODI encounter in March.

Naseeb Khan, CEO of the ACB, emphasized the importance of this upcoming series. “Hosting South Africa for the first time in Afghanistan’s cricketing history is a monumental achievement,” Khan stated. “South Africa is a formidable opponent, and we’re thrilled about this opportunity to compete against them in an ODI format.”

He also praised Afghanistan’s growth in international cricket, particularly in ICC tournaments. “Our team has consistently delivered strong performances in ICC events over the past few years, and we are committed to building on this momentum in bilateral series as well.”

Full Afghanistan ODI Squad:

  • Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
  • Rahmat Shah (vc)
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
  • Ikram Alikhil (wk)
  • Abdul Malik
  • Riaz Hassan
  • Darwish Rasooli
  • Azmatullah Omarzai
  • Mohammad Nabi
  • Gulbadin Naib
  • Rashid Khan
  • Nangyal Kharoti
  • Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar
  • Fazal Haq Farooqi
  • Bilal Sami
  • Naveed Zadran
  • Farid Ahmad Malik

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