Hashmatullah Shahidi to Captain Afghanistan in Their First ICC Champions Trophy

Kabul, Jan 12 (NationPress) Hashmatullah Shahidi will serve as the captain for Afghanistan during their inaugural ICC Champions Trophy journey, as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) revealed the 15-player squad on Sunday.

The talented top-order batsman, Ibrahim Zadran, who had been sidelined due to an ankle injury, is back in the squad. He will join the explosive Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top of the batting order, followed by the likes of Rahmat Shah and captain Shahidi, forming a formidable top four.

Nevertheless, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has not been selected, as AM Ghazanfar, another mystery spinner, has secured a spot in the squad for this significant event.

“Mujeeb Ur Rahman was unavailable for selection because his doctor has advised him to focus on T20s for a period to ensure a complete recovery before he returns to ODIs. This was also the reason for his absence in the recently concluded ODI series against Zimbabwe,” explained Ahmad Suliman Khil, Afghanistan's interim chief selector.

“The conditions in Pakistan are comparable to those in Afghanistan and the UAE, where we typically play. We will conduct a multi-phase preparation camp before we head into the tournament. Expectations are high, and I am optimistic that the team will train effectively and deliver outstanding performances, similar to their last two World Cups,” he added.

Star spinner Rashid Khan will spearhead the spin-bowling unit alongside all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and pace leader Fazalhaq Farooqi.

The squad also includes Sediqullah Atal, who recently showcased his skills in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, earning the Player of the Series title with a total of 156 runs, featuring a century and a half-century in two matches.

Additionally, Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, and Bilal Sami have been named as reserves to complement the main 15-member squad.

ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf remarked, “AfghanAtalan have excelled in the previous two ICC tournaments, the CWC23 and the ICC World T20 2024. Their remarkable performances in these tournaments, combined with their ODI series successes last year, will certainly enhance their morale and enable them to mount an even stronger challenge this time around.”

“The mentorship roles have proven advantageous for us in both of the last two events. Given this success, we have enlisted Younis Khan, who possesses extensive international and local expertise, and we are eager to fully leverage his knowledge during the tournament.”

Afghanistan's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 includes: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran, and Farid Ahmad Malik.

Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami.

Afghanistan is positioned in Group B alongside England, Australia, and South Africa. They will initiate their campaign against South Africa in Karachi on February 21, followed by matches against England and Australia on February 26 and 28, respectively, in Lahore.