Afghanistan name spin-heavy squad for historic India Test

TIL Desk Sports/ The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Tuesday announced a spin-heavy 16-member squad led by skipper Asghar Stanikzai for the historic one-off Test against India, starting on June 14 in Bengaluru. The squad comprises five spinners in Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zahir Khan and left-arm spinner Hamza Kotak, who incidentally emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded first-class competition.

Rashid and Mujeeb had fruitful campaigns in the Indian Premier League 2018 (IPL) playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab respectively. Rashid picked up 21 wickets in 17 matches and was also the architect behind SRH’s road to the final which they lost to eventual champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday.

Squad for the One-off Test against India: Asghar Stanikzai (Captain), Mohammad Shahzad (WK), Javed Ahmadi, Ihsanullah Jannat, Rahmat Shah, Nasir Jamal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai (WK), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Zahir Khan, Hamza Hotak, Syed Ahmad Sherzad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Wafadar Momand, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman.

Squad for T20Is against Bangladesh: Asghar Stanikzai (Captain), Mohammad Shahzad (WK), Najeebullah Tarakai, Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Shafiqullah Shafaq, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi , Gulbadin Naib, Karim Jannat, Rashid Khan, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Shapoor Zadran, Aftab Alam.