Mujeeb Ur Rahman returns as Afghanistan announce ODI and T20I squads for Zimbabwe tour
Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back in the white-ball setup as the side announced the ODI and T20I squads for their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. The Afghans will take on Zimbabwe in three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 9 to 19.
Mujeeb last played for Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup in June and has been out of action since with a right phalanx sprain. However, the 23-year-old has made a full recovery and finds himself in both the ODI and T20I squads.
Meanwhile, left-handed batter Zubaid Akbari earned his maiden call-up to the Afghanistan T20I squad, while another batter Darwish Rasooli also returns after last playing T20Is for the side in January this year.
Unfortunately for Afghanistan, their gun top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran will continue on the sidelines, recovering from his ankle injury for which he recently underwent surgery in England.
Speaking about the squads, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) interim chief selector Ahmad Shah said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo:
"It's a great feeling to see our frontline spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, recover from his injury and be available for selection. He is an essential member of our squad, and we hope he continues to shine brightly for Afghanistan."
"Additionally, Zubaid Akbari and Darwish Rasooli have been consistent performers, not only in domestic cricket but also in the recently concluded ACC Emerging Teams Cup, where Afghanistan claimed the title. We have included both players in the T20I squad and wish them the very best for the upcoming series," he added.
Regular star names like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, among others, were included in both squads.
Yet, other prominent names like Noor Ahmad and Naveen Ul Haq could find a place only in the T20I squad.
Following the white-ball games, Afghanistan will also play two Tests against Zimbabwe from December 26 to January 6. Afghanistan's last white-ball tour of Zimbabwe in 2022 saw them whitewash the hosts by 3-0 margins in the ODI and T20I series.
Afghanistan's ODI squad for tour of Zimbabwe
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, and Farid Ahmad Malik.
Afghanistan's T20I squad for tour of Zimbabwe
Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Zubaid Akbari, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, and Naveen Ul Haq.