Hashmatullah Shahidi has been appointed captain of Afghanistan for their upcoming tour of India, featuring a one-off Test followed by a three-match ODI series. The schedule runs from June 6 to June 20, with the Test taking place first before the limited-overs contests begin.
Afghanistan captain and tour dates
- The Afghanistan Test match starts on June 6 and runs through June 10 in New Chandigarh.
- The ODI series begins on June 14 in Dharamsala.
- The second ODI is set for June 17 in Lucknow.
- The final ODI will be played on June 20 in Chennai.
One-off Test squad: blend of experience and youth
For the lone Test, Afghanistan have named a squad that mixes seasoned options with younger talent. Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai are expected to anchor the batting responsibilities, while the wicketkeeping duties are covered by Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil.
Key roles in the Test team
- Batting core: Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai.
- Wicketkeepers: Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil.
- Spin bowling: Sharafudin Ashraf and Qais Ahmad.
- Fast bowling: Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi and Saleem Safi.
Test squad list
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
- Abdul Malik
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Rahmanullah Zadran
- Afsar Zazai (WK)
- Ikram Alikhil (WK)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Sharafudin Ashraf
- Nangyal Kharotai
- Qais Ahmad
- Bilal Sami
- Zia Sharifi
- Saleem Safi
Reserve Pool: Bashir Ahmad, Bahir Shah, Ismat Alam.
ODI series squad: Nabi and Rashid return, Mumbai Indians link for Ghazanfar
Afghanistan have opted for a slightly different group for the ODI leg, bringing back experienced campaigners Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan. The batting unit features young opener Ibrahim Zadran along with Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli, while AM Ghazanfar and Bilal Sami add further depth to the bowling attack.
Notable IPL connection
- AM Ghazanfar has earned his ODI spot after his IPL run with Mumbai Indians, where he claimed 15 wickets in 11 matches.
ODI squad list
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Darwish Rasooli
- Rahmat Shah
- Ikram Alikhil (WK)
- Mohammad Nabi
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Rashid Khan
- Nangyal Kharotai
- AM Ghazanfar
- Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
- Fareed Malik
- Bilal Sami
Reserve Pool: Qais Ahmad, Saleem Safi, Bashir Ahmad.
What to watch across the India tour
- In the Test, Afghanistan’s lineup leans on Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai for the bulk of the batting responsibility.
- The spin duties in the Test are expected to fall primarily on Sharafudin Ashraf and Qais Ahmad.
- Afghanistan’s pace attack for the Test is led by Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi and Saleem Safi.
- For the ODI series, the return of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan adds experience to the squad.
- Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli are tasked with strengthening the top and middle order.
- AM Ghazanfar’s selection ties back to his IPL impact for Mumbai Indians, where he took 15 wickets in 11 appearances.
Stay tuned for further updates on the upcoming IPL match between RCB and GT, along with the latest IPL news, including the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
