KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has finalized its national squads for the upcoming white-ball matches against Zimbabwe, set to begin December 11 at Harare Sports Club. The tour will feature three T20Is and three ODIs, with both teams aiming to solidify their positions in the international cricket circuit.
Zubaid Akbari, a young left-handed batter, has earned his maiden call-up to Afghanistan’s T20I squad following standout performances in domestic tournaments and the Emerging Asia Cup. Joining him is Darwish Rasooli, who also returns to the T20I squad after a stellar domestic season. Rasooli captained the AfghanAbdalyan team to victory in the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Asia Cup earlier this year.
Meanwhile, frontline spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has fully recovered from a finger injury and will feature in both T20I and ODI squads. However, Afghanistan will continue to miss top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran, who is recuperating from ankle surgery in England.
Leadership and expectations
ACB Chief Executive Naseeb Khan expressed optimism about the team’s performance during the tour. “This year has been action-packed and successful for Afghan cricket, and we look forward to this challenging series in Zimbabwe,” he said. Khan highlighted Afghanistan’s history of strong performances in Zimbabwe, calling the matches an exciting opportunity for both teams.
Interim Chief Selector Ahmad Shah noted the importance of Mujeeb’s return and praised Akbari and Rasooli for their consistent performances. “We believe these players will bring depth to the squad and make this series a memorable one,” Shah said.
Revised schedule
To accommodate spectators, match dates have been adjusted, with the T20Is now set for December 11, 13, and 14, followed by ODIs on December 17, 19, and 21. All games will take place at the Harare Sports Club.
The tour also includes two Tests, scheduled to be played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from December 26–30 and January 2–6.
T20I Squad:
Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Zubaid Akbari, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq.
ODI Squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, Farid Ahmad Malik.
Full series schedule
December 11, 2024 1st T20I Harare Sports Club, Harare
December 13, 2024 2nd T20I Harare Sports Club, Harare
December 14, 2024 3rd T20I Harare Sports Club, Harare
December 17, 2024 1st ODI Harare Sports Club, Harare
December 19, 2024 2nd ODI Harare Sports Club, Harare
December 21, 2024 3rd ODI Harare Sports Club, Harare
December 26–30, 2024 1st Test Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
January 2–6, 2025 2nd Test Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
