Rashid Khan has been recalled for Afghanistan’s three-match ODI series against Bangladesh early next month.
The series gets underway in Chattogram on July 5 to July 11.
Rashid was left out of last week’s one-off Test against Bangladesh in order to rest, following a back injury.
On Sunday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) finalized the 19-member squad for the series and included uncapped leg spinner Izharulhaq Naweed in the team, along with two other uncapped players, fast bowling duo Saleem Safi and Wafadar Momand.
Abdul Rahman, fast bowling all-rounder, who was part of Afghanistan’s recent ODI tour to Sri Lanka, has retained his place in the lineup, whereas Shahidullah Kamal and Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, who were part of the reserves during the Sri Lanka ODIs, have been promoted to the main squad.
In addition, Sayed Ahmad Shirzad, who last featured in an ODI in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, has also received a call-up.
Afghanistan Squad for Bangladesh ODIs: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Riaz Hassan, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah Kamal, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Izharulhaq Naveed, Abdul Rahman, Wafadar Momand, Saleem Safi and Sayed Ahmad Shirzad.
Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee said these players will be part of Afghanistan’s upcoming ODI assignments and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
The committee has also shortlisted backup reserves for the process, who will be utilized as per the team’s needs and requirements.
The backup reserves include the following players: Karim Janat, Zubaid Akbari, Qais Ahmad, Ihsanullah Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Naveen Ul Haq, Farid Ahmad Malik, Darwish Rasooli and Ishaq Rahimi.
Commenting on the squad, Asadullah Khan, the national chief selector, said: “We have selected the best available players for our future programs, including the Bangladesh ODIs next month. We have strategic plans in place to prepare our team for the upcoming mega events in the next 3-4 months.
“Therefore, we have chosen a specific number of players alongside backup reserves who will be utilized during this period.”
Afghanistan National Team will leave for Bangladesh on July 1, where they will feature in three ODIs on the 5th, 8th & 11th of July in Chattogram.
