Afghanistan will be boosted by the returning Mujeeb Ur Rahman, but are facing a race against time to have Rashid Khan available for the three game T20I series against India
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Saturday named a 19-member squad for the upcoming T20 International series against India. The three-match India vs Afghanistan series, starting January 11, will serve as their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. (More Cricket News)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who missed Afghanistan's series against the United Arab Emirates following ACB sanctions, has been named in the squad, signalling the end of an impasse which saw the board revoking the spinner's No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the remainder of the Big Bash League.
The 22-year-old is expected to lead Afghanistan's spin attack with regular Rashid Khan's participation still uncertain. The regular T2I0 captain is recovering from back surgery. The uncertainty also means that Ibrahim Zadran will continue to lead the team.
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"Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s regular T20I Captain, has been included in the squad but might not feature in any game as he recovers from the back surgery he recently underwent," ACB said.
"Meanwhile, Ibrahim Zadran, who led Afghanistan to a 2-1 series victory against the UAE in Sharjah, will continue to lead Afghanistan against India as well."
While announcing the squad, ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf said that the Afghanistan national cricket team will pose a strong challenge to India, the top-ranked side in all three formats of the game.
"We are delighted to be embarking on our maiden tour to India for a three-match series. India is the top-ranked side in the world and it’s very pleasing to witness AfghanAtalan competing in a three-match T20I against them," Ashraf said. "We believe that AfghanAtalan are no longer underdogs & have excelled well in the recent past and we look forward to a highly competitive series against India."
According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors led by former pacer Ajit Agarkar will pick the squad for the Afghanistan series, and also the first two Tests of the five-match series against England, which begins January 25, 2024.
The big talking ahead of India's squad announcement was the possible return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Afghanistan’s Squad for the T20I Series against India
Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmaullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan.