Afghanistan test squad: Afghanistan announced the team for the one-off test against Sri Lanka, key player left out
Afghanistan test squad: Afghanistan Cricket Board on Monday announced the squad for the one-off test against Sri Lanka. The test match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be played in Colombo from 2 February. Afghanistan will be without the services of their key leg spinner Rashid Khan who is recovering after undergoing back surgery. Afghanistan will play a test match against Sri Lanka for the first time.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board showed the team lineup for the lone test against Sri Lanka on Monday. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will play a single Test match in Colombo starting on February 2. Star leg spinner Rashid Khan, who is recuperating from back surgery, will not be available for duty in Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan, who made his international debut in 2022, has been replaced on the team by Qays Ahmed, according to the selectors. In addition to right-arm fast bowler Naveed Zadran and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Ishaq making their team debuts, Noor Ali Zadran may make his Test debut.
Both in the Ahmed Shah Abdali First Class in 2023 and the most recent Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional List A competition, Naveed and Ishaq demonstrated strong performance. This will be Afghanistan's first-ever test match against Sri Lanka. Afghanistan will play its eighth test match, by the way. This year, Afghanistan has six more test matches to play. He has to play one home test against New Zealand and two against Bangladesh.
In the eight Tests played so far, Afghanistan has defeated Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe once. ACB Chairman Mirwaiz Ashraf said on playing Test against Sri Lanka for the first time, "It is a good thing for us that we will play a Test match against Sri Lanka for the first time. 2024 is going to be a busy year for our Test cricket. We have to play many red ball and white ball matches. We are committed to our strengths in red-ball cricket and are looking to build a good Test team.
Afghanistan Test Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmat Shah (Vice-Captain), Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Ishaq, Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah, Naseer Jamal, Qais Ahmed, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman. Akhbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Nijat Masood, Mohammad Salim Safi and Naveed Zadran.
