Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid Khan is set to make his long-awaited return to Test cricket after more than three years, having been named in the squad for Afghanistan’s upcoming two-Test series against Zimbabwe. The series, which will take place in Bulawayo from December 26 to January 6, marks Rashid's first appearance in the longest format since March 2021.
Rashid, who has been a key figure for Afghanistan in limited-overs formats, had taken a break from Test cricket due to a groin injury on medical advice. His last Test appearance was against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in March 2021. His inclusion in the squad is seen as a significant boost for Afghanistan's red-ball cricket ambitions.
The squad for the Zimbabwe series also includes a number of fresh faces, with seven uncapped players named in the 17-member squad. Allrounder Ismat Alam, left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad, and left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad Afghan are among the new entrants, all of whom have impressed with their performances in domestic cricket, particularly the Ahmad Shah Abdali First-Class Tournament.
In addition to these debutants, Afghanistan will be bolstered by the return of several players who have yet to make their Test debuts, including Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Riaz Hassan, and Sediqullah Atal. These players were also part of the squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand in September, which was unfortunately washed out without a ball being bowled.
Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, Afghanistan's interim chief selector, expressed confidence in the squad's preparation, saying, "The team underwent good preparations recently in Nangarhar province, and we have thoroughly monitored the proceedings to pick a squad with several new faces, including Ismat Alam, Bashir Ahmad, and Zahir Shehzad, who have performed well in the domestic circuit."
Squad Overview
Additionally, Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rehman, and Mohammad Ibrahim have been named as reserve players.
Coaching Changes
In a further development, Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott, who was in charge of the team during the recent ODI leg of their tour of Zimbabwe, has made himself unavailable for the other formats of the tour for personal reasons. Hamid Hassan will step in as head coach for the Test series, with Nawroz Mangal serving as assistant coach.
Test Series Schedule
Both Test matches will be held at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, with the series running from December 26 to January 6. The return of Rashid Khan, coupled with the promising domestic talent in the squad, has generated considerable excitement among Afghanistan's cricket fans as they look forward to their team's performance in the longer format.
Afghanistan will be hoping to make their mark in Test cricket, with the Zimbabwe series providing an important opportunity to build momentum in the longest format of the game.