Fazalhaq Farooqi returns as Afghanistan drop Nabi for Ireland ODI series
Synopsis
Afghanistan have dropped veteran Mohammad Nabi and recalled pace spearhead Fazalhaq Farooqi for the five-match Ireland ODI series — the clearest sign yet that the selectors are rebuilding after a 3-0 whitewash by India. With Rahmat Shah taking charge as full-time ODI captain, this squad is as much a statement of intent as a team sheet.
Key Takeaways
Fazalhaq Farooqi has been recalled to Afghanistan's 15-member ODI squad for the five-match series against Ireland .
Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has been omitted — the most notable exclusion in the squad.
Rahmat Shah will captain Afghanistan in his first full-time ODI assignment, replacing Hashmatullah Shahidi , who continues as a batter.
Pacers Yamin Ahmadzai and Saleem Safi join Farooqi in an overhauled pace attack following a 3-0 ODI series defeat to India .
The series opens at Bready Cricket Club on 5 July , with the final three matches at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast on 10, 12, and 15 July .
Afghanistan beat Ireland 2-0 in their last ODI series in March 2024 .
Left-arm pace bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi has been recalled to Afghanistan's 15-member ODI squad for the upcoming five-match series against Ireland, while veteran off-spin all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has been left out entirely, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Friday, 24 July. The squad signals a deliberate reset of the pace attack following a 3-0 ODI series defeat to India.
New Captain at the Helm
Experienced batter Rahmat Shah will lead Afghanistan in what is his first assignment as the side's full-time ODI captain. He recently assumed the role from Hashmatullah Shahidi, who remains in the squad purely as a batter. The transition marks a new chapter in Afghanistan's ODI leadership structure.
Pace Department Overhauled
The selection committee has made sweeping changes to the bowling attack in the wake of the India series loss. Alongside Farooqi's return, pacers Yamin Ahmadzai and Saleem Safi have been drafted in. Fast bowlers Fareed Malik and Bilal Sami, who featured in the main squad against India, have been moved to the reserves, joined there by leg-spinner Qais Ahmad and pacer Bashir Ahmad.
Nabi's Absence the Headline
The most prominent omission is Mohammad Nabi, a stalwart of Afghanistan cricket whose off-spin and lower-order hitting have been fixtures in their white-ball set-up for years. No official reason was provided by the ACB for his exclusion, making it the most closely watched selection call ahead of the series.
Familiar Names Retain Their Place
Despite the changes, the squad retains several key pillars. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, and off-spinner AM Ghazanfar all keep their places. The core batting and spin resources remain largely intact.
Series Schedule and Venues
The five-match series opens with the first two ODIs at the Bready Cricket Club in Bready on 5 July and 7 July. The remaining three matches will be held at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on 10, 12, and 15 July respectively. Afghanistan last met Ireland in an ODI series in March 2024, winning that contest 2-0. The selectors will be hoping the revamped pace unit can help Afghanistan return to winning ways after their India setback.
Afghanistan ODI Squad: Rahmat Shah (c), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangyal Kharotai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Saleem Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.
Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami, Bashir Ahmad.
Point of View
And his absence from a five-match ODI series suggests the selectors are actively managing a transition rather than simply resting him. The 3-0 India defeat clearly accelerated that reckoning. What is less clear is whether Rahmat Shah, a composed batter but an untested captain at this level, has the tactical toolkit to manage a reshuffled pace attack against an Ireland side that has grown increasingly competitive in home conditions. Afghanistan's ODI record in Ireland and England has historically been mixed, and the real test of this squad overhaul will come not in the result but in whether the new pace combination can replicate what Farooqi offers at his best.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Mohammad Nabi been dropped from Afghanistan's ODI squad?
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has not given an official reason for Mohammad Nabi's omission from the 15-member squad for the Ireland ODI series. His exclusion is the most prominent selection call in a broader overhaul of the squad following a 3-0 ODI series defeat to India.
Why has Fazalhaq Farooqi been recalled to Afghanistan's ODI squad?
Fazalhaq Farooqi has been recalled as part of a deliberate overhaul of Afghanistan's pace attack after their 3-0 ODI series loss to India. He joins newly drafted pacers Yamin Ahmadzai and Saleem Safi in a revamped bowling unit.
Who is captaining Afghanistan in the Ireland ODI series?
Rahmat Shah will captain Afghanistan in his first full-time ODI assignment. He recently took over the leadership role from Hashmatullah Shahidi, who continues in the squad as a batter.
When and where is the Afghanistan vs Ireland ODI series being played?
The five-match series begins on 5 July and 7 July at the Bready Cricket Club in Bready, followed by three matches at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on 10, 12, and 15 July.
What is Afghanistan's recent ODI record against Ireland?
Afghanistan last played an ODI series against Ireland in March 2024 and won it 2-0. The upcoming five-match series is their next bilateral ODI contest against Ireland.
