Rashid Khan is part of Afghanistan’s squad for their historic Test against India
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have been included in the Afghanistan’s squad for their historic Test match against India in Bangalore.
Rashid and Mujeeb will go into the fixture on June 14, which will mark Afghanistan’s debut in the longest format, on a high as they put up a string of strong performances in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rashid represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad and played an instrumental role in leading them to the final as he was the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 21 victims at an average of 21.80.
Mujeeb, meanwhile, played for the Kings XI Punjab and picked up 14 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 20.64.
Afghanistan have also drafted in two more spinners – Zahir Khan and Amir Hamza – for the Test match against India.
Zahir was supposed to play for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, but was ruled out with a finger injury. As for Hamza, he was the highest wicket-taker in Afghanistan’s first-class competition.
Besides Zahir, 18-year-old pace bowler Wafadar is the only other uncapped player in the squad.
Asghar Stanikzai will captain the team, while all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad, and batsmen Rahmat Shah and Hashmathullah Shahidi also made the cut.
However, pace bowler Dawlat Zadran was not included in the team as he is nursing a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan have opted to inject some young blood in their squad for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in Dehradun next month.
Under-19 batsman Darwish Rasooli received his maiden call-up to the side following an excellent showing in the Under-19 World Cup.
As for batsman Najib Tarakai, who has represented Afghanistan in nine Twenty20 Internationals, he returns to the squad for the first time since March 2017.
Afghanistan’s Test Squad: Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Javed Ahmadi, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nasir Jamal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Sayed Shirzad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Wafadar, Zahir Khan
Afghanistan’s Squad for Bangladesh T20s: Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Najeeb Tarakai, Usman Ghani, Mohammad Shahzad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shapoor Zadran, Aftab Alam