Afghanistan Announces ODI Squad for Bangladesh Series
Afghanistan has announced its ODI squad for the series against Bangladesh, omitting injured players Ibrahim Zadran and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Sediqullah Atal replaces Zadran, while Noor Ahmad returns to strengthen the spin lineup. The squad remains largely the same following a successful series win against South Africa. ACB CEO Naseeb Khan emphasized the importance of the series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan has officially announced its squad for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Bangladesh. The team will be without prominent players Ibrahim Zadran and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who are both currently dealing with injuries. To replace Zadran, who is recovering from ankle surgery, Sediqullah Atal has been called up. Atal has shown considerable promise, being the leading run-scorer in the Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup and having participated in six T20 Internationals to date. Additionally, left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad has been recalled to bolster the team’s spin options, following his absence in the previous ODI series against South Africa. The remainder of the squad remains unchanged from the victorious 2-1 series against South Africa in Sharjah. Moreover, Naseeb Khan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), underscored the importance of this ODI series, stating that “ODI cricket remains a top priority as we prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy.” The fixtures for the ODI series are scheduled as follows: – 1st ODI: November 06, 2024 – Sharjah, UAE – 2nd ODI: November 09, 2024 – Sharjah, UAE – 3rd ODI: November 11, 2024 – Sharjah, UAE The Afghanistan ODI squad is as follows: Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmat Shah (Vice-Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper), Ikram Alikhil (Wicketkeeper), Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, and Farid Ahmad Malik.
The Afghanistan national cricket team has continuously worked to enhance its standing in international cricket, particularly in the limited-overs formats. The announcement of the ODI squad against Bangladesh comes in light of the team’s recent series victory over South Africa and its preparation for the impending ICC Champions Trophy. With a focus on both injury management and performance selection, the Afghanistan Cricket Board aims to assemble a competitive unit that can achieve success in the upcoming matches. The inclusion of rising players such as Sediqullah Atal signals the board’s intent on fostering talent and ensuring depth within the squad.
In conclusion, Afghanistan’s ODI series against Bangladesh presents an opportunity for the national team to further establish its capabilities on the international stage. The absence of key players due to injuries poses challenges; however, the inclusion of promising young talent and a cohesive squad build upon recent successes provides a strong foundation for upcoming matches. As emphasized by ACB’s CEO, the focus remains on excelling in ODI cricket in preparation for major international tournaments.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
