The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially revealed a 17-member squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against South Africa, set to take place from September 18 to 22 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.
Key Players Missing
In a significant setback, Afghanistan will be without two crucial players: Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Ibrahim Zadran. Mujeeb is still recovering from a right phalanx sprain, while Zadran has been ruled out due to an ankle sprain sustained during a recent Test match against New Zealand.
Squad Highlights
Despite the injuries, the squad boasts the return of world-class spinner Rashid Khan, who missed the previous ODI series against Ireland due to back issues. Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain the team, with Rahmat Shah serving as vice-captain. The full squad includes:
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
Historic Series
This series marks the first bilateral ODI encounters between Afghanistan and South Africa outside of ICC tournaments, with both teams having previously faced each other twice in World Cups, resulting in South African victories. ACB CEO Naseeb Khan emphasized the significance of hosting South Africa, stating that it represents a milestone in Afghanistan’s cricketing history.
Series Schedule
The matches are scheduled as follows:
1st ODI: September 18, Sharjah
2nd ODI: September 20, Sharjah
3rd ODI: September 22, Sharjah
This series is anticipated to be a competitive showcase, as both teams aim to enhance their standings in international cricket.
