A significant boost has arrived for the Afghanistan cricket team as offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman makes his much-anticipated return to the squad following a lengthy layoff due to injury. Mujeeb has been sidelined since June with a right phalanx sprain, impacting his ability to contribute to the team over the last several months. His return marks a crucial moment for Afghanistan, especially given the challenges they have faced in the absence of key players. The spinner was also recently seen competing in his first match back at the Abu Dhabi T10 on November 21, further signaling his readiness to rejoin competitive cricket.
In addition to Mujeeb, Afghanistan's white-ball squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe features the inclusion of promising top-order batter Zubaid Akbari. This will be Akbari's debut in the T20I format at the international level, showcasing the confidence placed in him by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. Alongside him, fellow top-order batter Darwish Rasooli returns to the squad after an extended break, adding depth and experience to the batting lineup. However, the team will not see the return of Ibrahim Zadran, who is still recovering from recent ankle surgery undertaken in England.
Zubaid Akbari's inclusion is justified by his impressive performance in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 tournament, where he emerged as one of the standout players. He concluded the tournament ranked as the fourth-highest run-scorer overall and the second-highest for Afghanistan A, accumulating a commendable 137 runs across four matches, complemented by an impressive strike rate of 131.73. His successful run underlines his potential as a valuable asset to the national team moving forward.
Darwish Rasooli carries similar weight as a seasoned player, having participated in seven T20Is to date. His leadership was critical in steering Afghanistan A to victory in their inaugural Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 held in Oman earlier this year. Rasooli's last appearance in a T20I was against the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah back in January. To further enhance their squad, Noor Ahmad has been named solely in the T20I lineup, while Riaz Hassan has been left out of the ODI selection, showcasing the selectors' emphasis on building a competitive side for the tour.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board's interim chief selector, Ahmad Shah, expressed the team's excitement regarding Mujeeb's return. Recognizing Mujeeb as a central figure in the bowling department, Shah emphasized the importance of having the frontline spinner back in action. The selectors also noted the consistent performances of Akbari and Rasooli in domestic cricket, particularly highlighting their contributions to Afghanistan's success in the recently concluded ACC Emerging Teams Cup.
Facing Zimbabwe, Afghanistan's white-ball series is structured to include three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs. This series will pave the way for the teams to contest two Test matches scheduled between December 26 and January 6, 2025. However, the Afghanistan team has yet to announce their Test squad, leaving fans eager for additional updates.
The tour schedule has seen a slight adjustment in dates to enhance fan attendance at key matches during the weekends. Notably, the three T20Is, originally planned for December 9, 11, and 12, will now take place on December 11, 13, and 14. As a result of this shift, the ODI matches have also been rescheduled, with the first ODI set for December 17, followed by the second and third on December 19 and 21, respectively. All matches will be held at the Harare Sports Club, an established venue for international cricket.
The Afghanistan squad for the ODIs against Zimbabwe includes:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)
Rahmat Shah (vice-captain)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper)
Ikram Alikhil (wicket-keeper)
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
Farid Ahmad Malik
The squad for the T20Is includes:
Rashid Khan (captain)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper)
Mohammad Ishaq (wicket-keeper)
Sediqullah Atal
Hazratullah Zazai
Mohammad Nabi
Darwish Rasooli
Zubaid Akbari
Gulbadin Naib
Karim Janat
Azmatullah Omarzai
Nangyal Kharoti
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Noor Ahmad
Fazal Haq Farooqi
Fareed Ahmad
Naveen Ul Haq
In summary, as the Afghanistan cricket team gears up for their tour of Zimbabwe, the return of Mujeeb Ur Rahman alongside the inclusion of emerging talents like Zubaid Akbari and the experience of Darwish Rasooli sets the stage for a competitive series. With a focus on performance and consistency, Afghanistan seeks to build on its accomplishments while navigating the ever-evolving landscape of international cricket.