Afghanistan Squad For Bangladesh And Zimbabwe Leaves Rashid Khan Out Of Tests

The Afghanistan squad for the Bangladesh and Zimbabwe series has been named. Rahmat Shah will captain in Tests and in one day internationals. Ibrahim Zadran takes the Twenty20 side. Rashid Khan and Zadran were both left out of the red ball squad. The board said the two have been advised against playing the longer format at this stage.

Afghanistan host Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the United Arab Emirates from 9 October to 17 November. The block holds three Tests. It also holds an ODI tri-nation series and three T20Is. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah share it.

Rahmat Shah takes charge in two formats

Rahmat leads a Test side that keeps Hashmatullah Shahidi as a senior batter. Ikram Alikhail is vice-captain and takes the gloves. Afsar Zazai is the second keeper. Four reserves travel with the group.

• Test squad: Rahmat Shah (captain), Ikram Alikhail (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Yamin Ahmadzai.
• Test reserves: Baheer Shah Mahboob, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, Bilal Sami, Bashir Ahmad.
• ODI additions: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fazal Haq Farooqi.
• T20I changes: Ibrahim Zadran captains, Mohammad Akram and Abdullah Tarakhil come in, Mohammad Nabi is left out.

Four players return to the red ball group. They are Ismat Alam, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Khalil Gurbaz. Darwish Rasooli misses both white ball squads. Abdullah Tarakhil gets a first T20I call.

Bangladesh arrive for a first Test in the UAE

The Test against Bangladesh starts on 9 October. It is at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The board says it is the first time Afghanistan have hosted Bangladesh in the format. Two more Tests against Zimbabwe follow in Sharjah in November.

Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Naseeb Khan said: "Test cricket is of immense importance to us, and we remain committed to strengthening Afghanistan's presence and performance in this format." On the one day leg he said: "The ODI Tri-Nation Series is also of great importance to us as part of our preparations for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027."

Six weeks between Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

The tri-nation ODIs run from 17 to 23 October and finish with a final. Zimbabwe then stay on for three T20Is and two Tests, keeping them in the UAE into the middle of November. Afghanistan were drawn in Group A of the 2027 World Cup alongside India, Australia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe, so the one day matches carry selection weight.

Afghanistan have played their home cricket in the UAE for years. Sharjah takes most of this block. Abu Dhabi takes the rest.