Afghanistan Cricket Board announce 16-member squad for one-off Test against New Zealand

Afghanistan cricket team (Twitter)

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has released their 16-member squad that will face New Zealand in what will be the maiden instance of them competing in the longest format of the game against the Kiwis.

It will be the fourth instance of top-order batter, Hashmatullah Shahidi, skippering the Test side. Having played just eight Tests for his nation, Shahidi, a player suited or rather opted by the ACB for ODIs, would be keen to lead the side well plus establish himself at the crease and score big runs while in the middle.

Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and Azmatullah Omarzai are the other seasoned campaigners part of the setup to go up against the Kiwis.

Star all-rounder, Rashid Khan, who last played the red-ball format for his nation way back in 2021, has been advised to not partake in Tests until around November of this year as he recuperates from a lower back surgery. Rashid had undergone the surgery in November 2023 post Afghanistan’s World Cup campaign ending.

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Due to not being in the preliminary squad, wicketkeeper-batter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and bowling all-rounder, Karim Janat, were considered.

On the other hand, Gulbadin Naib, who was in fact a part of the provisional unit didn’t make it to the final squad, with the ACB not specifying the exact reason as of now.

Afghanistan last won a Test when they faced Zimbabwe way back in March 2021, and would want to undo their wrongs when they take on New Zealand at the Greater Noida Sports Complex in Greater Noida.

Despite the Afghans playing a very limited number of Tests in their cricketing history, they would be keen on giving their best against an experienced New Zealand setup, who now have the likes of former India batting coach, Vikram Rathour, as well as erstwhile Sri Lankan luminary, Rangana Herath, on a short-term basis.

Also Read: Vikram Rathour joins New Zealand for one-off Test against Afghanistan, Rangana Herath appointed as spin bowling coach

Afghanistan’s 16-member squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhil, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shams Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Zahir Khan Pakteen, Qais Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, and Nijat Masood.