Ibrahim Zadran to Lead Afghanistan in T20I Series Against India, Recovering Rashid Khan Included in Squad

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced the 19-member squad for a three-match T20I series against India starting January 11. Ibrahim Zadran will lead the Afghan side in the T20I contests as Rashid Khan might miss the matches. The leg-spinner has been included in the squad but his availability is subjective to fitness as he is currently recovering from back surgery.

“Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s regular T20I Captain, has been included in the squad but might not feature in any game as he recovers from the back surgery he recently underwent,” the Afghanistan cricket board said in a statement.

Recently, Afghanistan beat UAE 2-1 in a three-match T20I series where Zadran was leading the charge of the side.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was not part of the recently held three-match T20I series against UAE, comes back to the squad to face India. Ikram Alikhil, who was part of the reserves against the UAE, has been promoted to the main squad as the backup wicket-keeper batter.

“We are delighted to be embarking on our maiden tour to India for a three-match series. India is the top-ranked side in the world and it’s very pleasing to witness AfghanAtalan competing in a three-match T20I against them. We believe that AfghanAtalan are no longer underdogs & have excelled well in the recent past and we look forward to a highly competitive series against India,” ACB Chairman Mr. Mirwais Ashraf said.

India and Afghanistan will look to make use of the T20 matches to better prepare for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which is jointly hosted by the West Indies and the United States.

Afghanistan’s Squad for the three-match T20I Series against India: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmaullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan.