Afghanistan have named a 15-man group for their one-off Test against India, bringing in top-order batters Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah. The squad, captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi, also includes a call-up for all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.
Quick facts
- Afghanistan have recalled Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah for the one-off Test vs India.
- Azmatullah Omarzai has been added to the Test squad.
- Atal and Omarzai each have one prior Test appearance (both vs Zimbabwe in 2024).
- Rahmat Shah has featured in 11 of Afghanistan’s 12 Tests so far.
- Rashid Khan is not part of the Test squad due to head coach Richard Pybus urging long-term health priorities.
- The match is scheduled in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10.
Atal and Omarzai, both recognised for their batting upside, have limited experience at the Test level so far, with just a single appearance each—both coming against Zimbabwe in 2024. Rahmat Shah, meanwhile, is the most seasoned option in the current line-up, having played in 11 of Afghanistan’s 12 Tests to date. His only absence was the team’s most recent one-off Test against Zimbabwe played late last year.
As expected, Afghanistan will again be without Rashid Khan in the longest format. Head coach Richard Pybus has recently stressed that the spinner should prioritise long-term well-being over featuring in Tests, following concerns arising from his recent injury issues.
With Rashid missing, Qais Ahmad is set to lead Afghanistan’s spin attack. He will likely be supported by left-arm spinners Sharafuddin Ashraf and Nangeyalia Kharote, giving the unit multiple angles and variations for Indian conditions.
Test squad (one-off vs India)
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
- Abdul Malik
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Rahmanullah Zadran
- Afsar Zazai (wk)
- Ikram Alikhil (wk)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Sharafuddin Ashraf
- Nangeyalia Kharotai
- Qais Ahmad
- Bilal Sami
- Zia Sharifi
- Saleem Safi
Reserves: Bashir Ahmad, Bashir Shah, Ismat Alam. The one-off Test is scheduled in New Chandigarh from June 6 to June 10.
Following the Test, Afghanistan’s three-match ODI series begins in Dharamsala on June 14. The ODI group largely mirrors the side that swept Bangladesh in a series last October, reflecting continuity in selection.
One notable change comes with the inclusion of left-arm seamer Fareed Malik, who last played an ODI in 2024. Alongside him, the ODI squad retains a familiar mix of batters, all-rounders and wicketkeeping options.
ODI squad (3-match series)
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Darwish Rasooli
- Rahmat Shah
- Ikram Alikhil (wk)
- Mohammad Nabi
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Rashid Khan
- Nangeyalia Kharote
- AM Ghazanfar
- Zia ur Rahman
- Fareed Malik
- Bilal Sami
Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Saleem Safi, Bashir Ahmad.
