The Afghanistan team management has named a 16-member squad for the only test match against New Zealand starting this Monday, in Greater Noida, India. The squad is finalized after assessing the players’s performances in the preparation camp. Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the Afghanistan side as their regular skipper Rashid Khan has been asked to stay away from the Test format for at least one year. As of now, Shahidi has played eight Tests for Afghanistan, of which three have been as a skipper.
Earlier, the Afghan pacer Naveed Zadran was ruled out of the one-off Test against New Zealand after sustaining a side strain injury. This will be the first time when the two teams will face each other in the longest format. The squad announcement happened after the conclusion of the preparatory camp of a 20-member preliminary squad made by the Afghan team management. The selection committee made an announcement after evaluating players’ fitness and performance.
Talking about the New Zealand team, they have roped in former India batting coach Vikram Rathour alongside legendary Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath on a short-term basis in order to do well in the sub-continent. The Blackcaps will be facing Afghanistan in a one-off Test from September 9 in Greater Noida, India, and will then square off Sri Lanka and India for five Tests.
Afghanistan Squad for one-off Test: 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
New Zealand Squad for one-off Test: Tim Southee (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (VC), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
