Afghanistan have sacked Rashid Khan as T20I captain following a disastrous T20 World Cup campaign in which the team failed to qualify for the Super 8. On Wednesday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named their ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates.
Ibrahim Zadran has replaced Rashid as the new T20I skipper. After the World Cup, ACB Chief Executive Naseeb Khan confirmed that discussions were underway regarding potential structural and leadership changes within the team.
After Ibrahim replaced Rashid as T20I captain, ACB Chief Selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil said, “Ibrahim Zadran, who has served as Rashid Khan’s deputy, will assume the role as Afghanistan’s regular captain in this format. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rashid Khan for his valuable contributions and wish Ibrahim Zadran every success in this important new role.”
Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, and Mohammad Ishaq, all of whom were part of the T20 World Cup squad, have been left out of both squads.
Meanwhile, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, left-arm fast bowler Fareed Ahmad, and top-order wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman have been selected in the T20I squad.
Bilal Sami, who claimed a five-wicket haul and was named Player of the Match in his last ODI outing against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi last October, has retained his place in the ODI squad and has also been included in the T20I reserves.
Nangyal Kharoti and Ijaz Ahmadzai join Sami in the T20I reserves, while Bashir Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi, and Qais Ahmad have been named in the ODI reserves pool.
Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series starting March 13 in Sharjah, before moving to Dubai for a three-match ODI series beginning March 20.
Afghanistan T20I squads for Sri Lanka series
Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Reserves: Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami and Ijaz Ahmadzai
Afghanistan ODI squads for Sri Lanka series
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Bilal Sami.
Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Bashir Ahmad.
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