Afghanistan Unveils Three Fresh Faces in Test Squad for New Zealand Clash

The preliminary team that was revealed last month did not include Gulbadin Naib, Fareed Ahmad, or Yama Arab. Pacer Naveed Zadran is also not playing because of a side strain.

Afghanistan’s final 16-man team for the one-off Test match against New Zealand, which is set to start in Greater Noida on September 9, includes three uncapped players: pacer Khalil Ahmed, all-rounder Shamsurrahman, and opener Riaz Hassan.

Rashid Khan, a talented all-rounder, is not in the team because he is healing from an injury. In Rashid’s absence, Afghanistan’s spin attack would be spearheaded by Zahir Khan and Zia-ur-Rehman.

The preliminary team that was revealed last month did not include Gulbadin Naib, Fareed Ahmad, or Yama Arab. Pacer Naveed Zadran is also not playing because of a side strain.

“The players’ performance in the training camp determines the final roster.” The Afghanistan Cricket Board stated in a release that the 16-member team was finally decided upon today following discussions with the skipper and coaching staff. It is noteworthy that 19 players took part in a preparatory camp in Greater Noida for almost ten days.

The squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shams Ur Rahman, Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad and Nijat Masood.

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