The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has chosen its lineups for the forthcoming white-ball series against Bangladesh, which will be contested in the UAE from October 2 to 14. The announcement featured major inclusions and omissions as Afghanistan prepared for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year.
Senior players Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, and Karim Janat were not selected in either format, prompting selectors to look for new faces to help improve the roster. Tall left-arm pacer Bashir Ahmad, who has yet to make his international debut, has been named to both squads as a comparable alternative for Farooqi.
He has played 14 T20s thus far, taking 12 wickets at an economy rate of 9.06. Wafiullah Tarakhil has been picked to the T20I team following a solid Shpageeza Cricket League season in which he made 298 runs in nine innings at an average of 37.25 and a strike rate of 155.20.
Pacer Abdullah Ahmadzai returns to the T20I squad after serving in the reserves during the Asia Cup. Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi has been named to the ODI team, with reserves Bilal Sami and Faridoon Dawoodzai providing more fast bowling options.
Spinner AM Ghazanfar was also included to the ODI team but was relegated to the reserves for the T20Is. In ODIs, the arrival of Nangeyalia Kharote, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Ghazanfar strengthens a spin-heavy squad.
Meanwhile, Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to captain the ODI team, with Rahmat Shah serving as his deputy. Rashid will lead the T20I team, with Ibrahim Zadran serving as vice-captain. ACB CEO Naseeb Khan emphasised the significance of the upcoming fixtures following a lengthy lull in Afghanistan’s international schedule:
“After a long six-month break from international cricket following the ICC Champions Trophy, we are now entering a packed season with many T20I games scheduled. This provides the team with an incredible opportunity to prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year. The performances in the Asia Cup 2025 were not as expected, but ups and downs are part of the game. As always, we remain hopeful that AfghanAtalan will bounce back strongly and make our nation proud in the upcoming events,” ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said in a statement.
Afghanistan T20I squad
Rashid Khan (capt), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohamamad Ishaq (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Reserves: AM Ghazanfar and Rahmat Shah
Afghanistan ODI squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi
Reserves: Bilal Sami and Faridoon Dawoodzai
India
