Afghanistan Squad Set for One-Off Test Match with Ireland

Hanifullah Khan
Kabul: The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee has finalized the Afghanistan National Team’s Squad for the one-off test match against Ireland, scheduled to be played from February 28 – March 03 at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been added to the test squad and is expected to potentially debut for Afghanistan against Ireland.
Additionally, Khalil Gurbaz, a right-arm leg-spinner with a strong FC record, has been included in the squad to provide his leg-break bowling services. He has notably taken 40 wickets in 17 innings, with a best of 6/125 in an inning.
Fast Bowler Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai makes a return to the squad after featuring in Afghanistan’s tour of Bangladesh in June last year. Yamin Ahmadzai and Mohammad Saleem Safi, who were part of Afghanistan’s squad for the Sri Lanka test earlier this month, miss out on selection due to injuries.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan highlighted the historical significance of matches between Afghanistan and Ireland over the past 15 years, expressing anticipation for an exciting test match.
He also mentioned upcoming test matches against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe later in the year, emphasizing Afghanistan’s ambition to build a strong lineup for future tests.
Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, ACB’s interim Chief Selector, mentioned a 10-day conditioning camp in Abu Dhabi involving 22 players and support staff to prepare for the series. The squad includes several new faces who have performed well in recent domestic events.
The Afghanistan Squad for the one-off test against Ireland comprises Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah, Nasir Jamal, Karim Janat, Khalil Gurbaz, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Nijat Masoud, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, and Naveed Zadran.
This will be Afghanistan’s 9th overall test match and second against Ireland. Following the one-off test match against Ireland, Afghanistan is set to play 5 more test matches this year, including a two-test home series against Bangladesh and a one-off home test against New Zealand.
Etisalat Afghanistan Telecommunication Company holds the title sponsorship for the series, with Super Cola Beverages Manufacturing Company as the Presenting sponsor and Bank-e-Millie Afghan BMA as the associate sponsor for Afghanistan’s all-format series against Ireland.