Afghanistan name 16-member squads for Bangladesh white-ball series, Mohammad Nabi returns

Mohammad Nabi has returned to Afghanistan One Day International squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, slated to begin from February 23. The ODI series will be followed by two T20Is as well. Afghanistan Cricket Board announced a 16-member squad for both the series.

While some youngsters made their way into the squad, some big names were omitted. Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Shahzad, Hashmatullah, Hamid Hassan and Naveen ul Haq are the ones missing out while newer faces in the squad include Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Afsar Zazai, Qais Ahmad and Nijat Masood. Both Nabi and Rashid Khan are currently participating in the ongoing PSL 2022 and are expected to join the squads before the beginning of the ODI series.

While the rest of the squad has started their training at the Sylhet International Stadium on Monday after Bangladesh Cricket Board officials confirmed to Cricbuzz that the preparations began only after all the members tested negative for COVID-19.

Afghanistan had a really bad run during the T20 World Cup last year. Cricketing fans, as well as pundits all around the world, were hoping for a great performance from the side given the potential of the squad with which they went in. However, they could not meet up to the expectations and therefore will be looking to make amends.

“The selectors have included some young faces to the ODI line up which is a good sign for us, as we are leading into the World Cup next year. The three ODIs are important for us and I am sure the squad carries enough strength to do well when they get to the field,” ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf said in a statement. “We have an eye on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, so the T20I series is also vital in terms of our overall preparations for the mega event.”

Afghanistan’s squads for Bangladesh series

ODI squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Azmatullah Omarzai, Farid Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhail, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Riaz Hassan, Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai

T20I squad

Mohammad Nabi (C), Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Karim Janat, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Nijat Masood, Qais Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Usman Ghani