Afghanistan Rest Rashid Khan, Name Squads for Zimbabwe Series

Ahead of their tour to Zimbabwe, Afghanistan cricket authorities have announced the squads for a one-off Test and a three-match T20 International series. In a strategic move to safeguard player fitness for the impending T20 World Cup, Rashid Khan will be rested for the Test match. His workload management is a key consideration, having been actively involved in recent tournaments. The Test side, captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi, will see opportunities for players who have excelled in Afghanistan’s domestic red-ball competitions. Among the new inclusions are Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, and Khalil Gurbaz, recognized for their promising domestic showings. The tour also sees Gulbadin Naib excluded from the T20I squad. Afghanistan aims to leverage this series to improve their T20I form after recent setbacks.