Afghanistan have recalled Rashid Khan as T20I captain after 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 its ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates.
Ibrahim Zadran replaced Rashid as the new T20I captain. After the World Cup, ACB CEO Naseeb Khan confirmed that negotiations are underway regarding potential structural and leadership changes in the team.
After Ibrahim replaced Rashid as T20I captain, ACB Chief Selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil said, “Ibrahim Zadran, who served as Rashid Khan’s deputy, will take over as Afghanistan’s regular captain in this format. We express our heartfelt gratitude to Rashid Khan for his valuable contributions in this important role and wish him every success in Zahimdran Ibra.”
Left-arm pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Ishaq, who were all part of the T20 World Cup squad, have been omitted from both teams.
Meanwhile, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, left-arm fast bowler Fareed Ahmad and first-class wicket-taker Noor Rahman have been picked in the T20I squad.
Bilal Sami, who took five wickets and was named man of the match in his last ODI against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi last October, retained his place in the ODI squad and was also 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.
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 starting 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, Mujee Zuragd Rahman Farhman Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Reserves: Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami and Ijaz Ahmadzai
Afghanistan ODI squad 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 Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Zharoth, AM Gharih Malik and Bilal Sami.
Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Bashir Ahmad.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
05 March 2026 17:00 IST
