Rashid Khan Sidelined for Test; Afghanistan Announce Zimbabwe Squads

Afghanistan has unveiled its squads for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, which includes a one-off Test match and a T20 International series. Notably, star spinner Rashid Khan has been rested for the solitary Test to manage his workload ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year. The selectors have also opted to exclude all-rounder Gulbadin Naib from the T20I squad. The Test match, scheduled for October 20th, will see a team led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, featuring new faces rewarded for strong domestic red-ball performances. Young talents like fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, and leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz have earned call-ups. Shahidullah Kamal, a spin-bowling all-rounder, has been included in both the Test and T20I squads. This Test marks Afghanistan’s second in the format this year and their 12th overall since their debut in 2018, as they continue to build their Test cricket journey.