Afghanistan’s star all-rounder Rashid Khan has been surprisingly omitted from the preliminary squad for the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand. The Test, scheduled from September 9 to 13, will be played at the neutral venue of Greater Noida in India.
Rashid Khan, who last represented Afghanistan in Test cricket in March 2021 against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi, has not been included in Afghanistan’s 20-man preliminary squad. His exclusion continues his absence from the national red-ball team, raising questions about the reasons behind the decision.
‘Twenty players have been selected for the training camp’ : ACB Chief Selector
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has not provided a specific explanation for Rashid’s omission. Ahmad Shah Sulimankhel, the chief selector, emphasized that only a 15-member squad will be selected for the match against New Zealand after closely monitoring the players’ performance and fitness during the preparatory camp.
“Twenty players have been selected for the training camp, and a 15-member squad will be chosen to play the only Test match against New Zealand after observing their performance and fitness,” said Sulimankhel in an official statement.
Rashid was recently active in the Shpageeza T20 League in Kabul, captaining Speen Ghar Tigers and showcasing his skills with a quick 53 off 26 balls and picking up a wicket. However, his recent hamstring injury, sustained during The Hundred competition where he represented Trent Rockets, might have influenced the selectors’ decision to leave him out of the Test squad.
In Rashid’s absence, the spotlight turns to Azmatullah Omarzai, a promising bowling all-rounder expected to make his Test debut. Omarzai, who has impressed in limited-overs cricket, is included in the preliminary squad despite limited experience in red-ball cricket.
Afghanistan’s squad features a mix of seasoned players and fresh faces, with Hashmatullah Shahidi leading the side as captain. The final 15-man squad will be announced after the team’s training camp in India, which begins on August 28.
Afghanistan Preliminary Squad for One-Off Test Against New Zealand:Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Shahidullah Kamal, Gulbadin Naib, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ziaurrahman Akbar, Shamsurrahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masoud, Farid Ahmad Malik, Naveed Zadran, Khalil Ahmad, Yama Arab.
