Afghanistan will proceed to miss the providers of their T20I captain Rashid Khan as he recovers from back surgery and has thus not been included within the 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I sequence towards Sri Lanka.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who, as per a launch by the ACB, had sustained “a sprain in his proper phalanx (hand)” earlier than the beginning of the ODI sequence towards Sri Lanka, can also be dominated out. Quick bowler Mohammad Saleem, who has failed to get better from a hamstring damage, is lacking too.
Afghanistan made 4 modifications to the squad that confronted India in a T20I sequence final month. Whereas Mujeeb and Saleem are out injured, Afghanistan have dropped wicketkeeper-batter Ikram Alikhil and top-order batter Rahmat Shah.
Mohammad Ishaq, the wicketkeeper-batter who was additionally named within the squad for the one-off Check towards Sri Lanka, has acquired a call-up to the T20I aspect. As well as, quick bowler Wafadar Momand has been recalled in place of Saleem.
Mujeeb performed two T20Is towards India, after which turned out for Gulf Giants within the ILT20 earlier than flying to Sri Lanka for the ODI sequence, the place he suffered the damage. Saleem, then again, performed the third T20I towards India and the lone Check towards Sri Lanka however was dominated out of the ODI squad due to a hamstring damage.
Rashid, in the meantime, has not performed aggressive cricket for the reason that ODI World Cup in November. He withdrew from the BBL this season, after which he underwent back surgery and was subsequently dominated out of SA20 as effectively.
Extra lately, Rashid additionally pulled out of the upcoming PSL as he continues his rehab. Rashid was initially half of the sequence towards India however was dominated out even earlier than the T20Is started, although he did journey with the staff all through.
In Rashid’s absence, Ibrahim Zadran will proceed main the T20I aspect, like he had towards each India and UAE. He may have Gurbaz on the prime of the order, with the likes of Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Hazratullah Zazai and Azmatullah Omarzai to comply with. Fazalhaq Farooqi will lead the fast-bowling assault, which additionally has Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Ahmad and Momand. Noor Ahmad and Qais Ahmad, alongside Sharafuddin Ashraf, will type a younger spin-bowling unit.
Afghanistan haven’t had a good time in Sri Lanka to date. They misplaced the one Check by ten wickets, and are presently 0-2 down within the three-match ODI sequence. The T20I sequence will get underway on February 17, with the second and third video games slotted for February 19 and 21, respectively. All matches can be performed in Dambulla.
Afghanistan squad: Ibrahim Zadran (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Wafadar Momand and Qais Ahmad
