Rashid Khan Makes Comeback to Afghanistan's Test Team for Zimbabwe Series
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New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is making his way back into the Test squad for the upcoming two-match series in Zimbabwe, as confirmed by the nation's cricket governing body.
Currently, Afghanistan is engaged in the white-ball segment of the Zimbabwe tour before transitioning to two Test matches scheduled from December 26 to January 6 in Bulawayo.
Rashid's last Test appearance was in March 2021 against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi, which concluded in a 1-1 stalemate. He missed subsequent Test series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Ireland due to a mix of rest and injury.
Additionally, Afghanistan has called up left-handed top-order batsman Sediqullah Atal, who has previously played ODI and T20I matches for the national team. Young medium-fast bowling all-rounder Ismat Alam is also returning to the Test squad for the first time after an impressive showing in the Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Competitions, where he accumulated 723 runs and claimed 12 wickets.
Left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad and left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad Afghan have been included in the team following their remarkable performances in domestic first-class competitions.
The Afghanistan Test squad features seven uncapped players, including Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, and Riaz Hassan.
"The return of Rashid Khan to the Test squad is a positive indication for our red-ball cricket's future. The team has undergone solid preparations in Nangarhar province, involving 19 players and all support staff to ensure comprehensive readiness for the series," stated Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, the interim chief selector of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
Players Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, and Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai are part of the reserve player pool for the series. Afghanistan has previously recorded three Test victories, including one against Zimbabwe in 2021.
A comprehensive look at the Afghanistan squad includes: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Afsar Zazai (WK), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, and Fareed Ahmad Malik.
