This will be Afghanistan’s first-ever match in the longest format of the game against New Zealand, and the Cricket Board of Afghanistan has released their 16-man team.
This will mark Hashmatullah Shahidi’s fourth time as a top-order batsman missing a Test match. Shahidi, a player the ACB chose for one-day internationals despite playing only eight Tests for his country, would be eager to lead the team, establish himself at the crease, and make huge runs while occupying the middle position.
The other experienced players included in the lineup to face the Kiwis are Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and Azmatullah Omarzai.
Renowned all-rounder Rashid Khan, who last competed for his country in red-ball cricket in 2021, has been told not to play in Tests until around November of this year as he heals from a lower-back surgery. Following the conclusion of Afghanistan’s World Cup campaign, Rashid had the surgery in November 2023.
Karim Janat, who bowled all-round, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the wicketkeeper-batter, were taken into consideration because they were not included in the preliminary team.
However, Gulbadin Naib, who was actually a member of the interim team, was left off of the final roster; the ACB has not yet disclosed the precise reason for this.
When Afghanistan plays New Zealand in the Greater Noida Sports Complex in Greater Noida, they will be looking to right their wrongs from their previous Test victory against Zimbabwe in March 2021.
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Though Afghanistan’s cricketing history is limited to a small number of Test matches, they would still be eager to give it their all against a seasoned New Zealand side that includes former India batting coach Vikram Rathour and former Sri Lankan star Rangana Herath on a temporary basis.
Afghanistan’s 16-member squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhil, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shams Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Zahir Khan Pakteen, Qais Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, Nijat Masood
India
