ISLAMABAD: Wily spinner Rashid Khan will lead a strong 17-man Afghanistan squad in the Twenty20 international series against Pakistan starting in Sharjah this week, selectors announced Tuesday.
The three-match series is the first bilateral series between the neighbours, and will be played at Sharjah Crick Ground on March 24, 26 and 27.
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Naseeb Khan stated that the best available players had been chosen.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday he said that Afghanista’s team worked hard in training camp, and selectors have picked the best available players for the series.
“I am confident and optimistic that our team will perform at their best and make our nation proud,” he said
Former captain Mohammad Nabi, who stepped down after the Twenty20 World Cup in November, is also part of the squad.
Aggressive opening batsman Hazratullah Zazai and middle-order batter Rahmat Shah have been dropped from the squad.
Left-handed opener Sediqullah Atal has been added and could make his debut for Afghanistan in the series.
Squad for the T20 Series
Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Sediqullah Atal, Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq.
