Afghanistan announce all-format squads for Bangladesh, Zimbabwe series

Afghanistan announced on Thursday they will continue to rest masterclass spin bowler Rashid Khan from Test cricket as they put forward their squads for a series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan will first play a one-off Test against Bangladesh from October 9 to 13 in Abu Dhabi, with Rashid missing.

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"Rashid and opener Ibrahim Zadran continue to be rested from Test cricket as per medical assessments," a release from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said.

"Both players have been advised not to play Tests."

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Rashid, 28, regarded as the world's top spinner, underwent back surgery in 2023 and played the last of his six Tests in January 2025.

The Test will be followed by a one-day international tri-series with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe from October 17 to 23.

Following the tri-nation series, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will contest a three-match T20I series, with the matches scheduled for October 27, October 29 and November 1.

The two sides will then meet in a two-match Test series, with the first Test scheduled for November 5–9 and the second from November 13 to 17.

All five matches against Zimbabwe will be played at the Sharjah stadium.

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The Test and ODI squads will be led by Rahmat Shah.

ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan termed the forthcoming contests as valuable for Afghanistan.

"The ODI tri-nation series is of great importance to us as part of our preparations for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027," said Naseeb.

Afghanistan qualified directly for the World Cup -- to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia -- on the basis of their rankings.

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Test squad: Rahmat Shah (captain), Ikram Alikhil, Afsar Zazai, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Yamin Ahmadzai

Squad for the ODI tri-series: Rahmat Shah (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai

T20I Squad against Zimbabwe: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Rahman, Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdullah Tarakhail, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Farid Ahmad Malik