Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday unveiled its squad for the historic Zimbabwe tour, comprising a Test and three-match T20I series, starting on October 20 at the Harare Sports Club.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead Afghanistan in the one-off Test
In a strategic move, Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain the Test team Rashid Khan The rest has been given to prioritize his recovery and long-term well-being ahead of upcoming international commitments. However, Rashid will return to lead the team in the T20 series.
The Test squad includes familiar faces such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Bahir Shah, as well as promising players from domestic cricket. Left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmed, who impressed in Afghanistan’s recent white-ball fixtures, has retained his place. Meanwhile, standout performers of the domestic red-ball season, Zia ur Rehman Sharifi, Sharafuddin Ashraf and leg spinner Khalil Gurbaz have earned call-ups. Spin all-rounder Shahidullah Kamal has been included in both teams, highlighting his growing influence.
New faces and key inclusions in Afghanistan’s T20I squad
T20I team captained by Rashid Khan ibrahim zadran As vice-captain, there is a solid mix of experience and emerging talent. Ijaz Ahmed Ahmadzai, who made his T20I debut in 2024, returns after an impressive domestic performance, while Shahidullah Kamal’s consistent all-round performances in the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL) have earned him a recall.
The team also includes T20 specialists like Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmed, making it a strong squad for the series against Zimbabwe.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan opens up about the team’s progress
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan expressed satisfaction over Afghanistan’s continued cricketing development, saying the team’s participation in consecutive bilateral series reflects the success of the board’s long-term strategy.
“Following the Bangladesh series hosted by the ACB, our national team will travel to Zimbabwe for a Test and T20I series. Following this, we will play more international series as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our cricket calendar.” Khan said in his official statement.
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Afghanistan squad for 2025 Zimbabwe tour
Examination: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rehmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran (vice-captain), Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhel, Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia ur Rehman Akbar, Yameen Ahmedzai, Zia ur Rehman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, Bashir Ahmed.
Reserve: Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Sediqullah Atal, Shams ur Rehman
T20I: Rashid Khan (captain), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmed Ahmedzai, Azmatullah Umzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Bashir Ahmed, Farid Ahmed Malik, Abdullah Ahmedzai.
Store: Allah Ghazanfar, Faridoon Dawoodzai