Kabul – October 1, 2026: The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee has finalized Afghanistan’s Test, ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming Test against Bangladesh, the ODI Tri-Nation Series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe and the two-match Test Series against Zimbabwe.
The
one-off Test match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh will be played from
October 9–13, 2026, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This will be
followed by the ODI Tri-Nation Series involving Afghanistan, Bangladesh and
Zimbabwe from October 17–23. The first two matches of the series will be played
in Abu Dhabi, before the action moves to Sharjah for the remaining two matches.
Following
the Tri-Nation Series, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will contest a three-match T20I
series, with the matches scheduled for October 27, October 29 and November 1.
The two sides will then meet in a two-match Test series, with the first Test
scheduled for November 5–9 and the second from November 13–17, 2026. All five
matches will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The
Test and ODI squads will be led by Rahmat Shah, who was recently appointed
Afghanistan’s Test and ODI captain. He led Afghanistan to a 4-0 ODI series
against Ireland in August, However, the upcoming Test against Bangladesh will
mark his first assignment as Afghanistan’s full-time Test captain.
Fast-bowling
all-rounder Ismat Alam returns to the Test squad after missing the recently
held Test against India. Left-handed middle-order batter Shahidullah Kamal and
fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai have also earned recalls following their outstanding
performances in the ongoing Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament 2026.
Shahidullah
has accumulated 538 runs at an average of 76.85 in the tournament and currently
leads the batting charts, while Yamin has claimed 42 wickets at an average of
12.73 and has occupied the top spot of the bowling charts.
Experienced
slow-left-arm spinner Zia Ur Rahman Akbar also returns to the Test squad after
missing international cricket for almost a year due to injury. Meanwhile,
right-arm leg spinner Khalil Gurbaz, who was part of Afghanistan’s Test squad
for the Ireland Test in 2024, has also been recalled.
Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran continue to be rested from Test cricket; as per medical assessments, both players have been advised against participating in the longer format of the game at this stage.
In the white-ball formats, Middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli
has been left out of both the ODI and T20I squads, whereas Mohammad Nabi has
lost his spot in the T20I squad. Mohammad Akram, who recently made his T20I
debut at the 2026 Asian Games, has earned a call-up to the T20I squad for the
series against Zimbabwe. Young fast-bowling all-rounder Abdullah Tarakhil has
also been rewarded for his impressive performances in the 11th edition of the
Shpageeza Cricket League in July and has earned his place in the T20I squad.
Right-hand middle-order
batter Ijaz Ahmadzai and left-hand middle-order batter Shahidullah Kamal have
also been recalled to the T20I squad. Meanwhile, Fareed Ahmad Malik, who was
part of the reserves for Afghanistan’s recent T20I series against India, has
been promoted to the main 15-member T20I squad.
ACB CEO Mr. Naseeb Khan said: “Test
cricket is of immense importance to us, and we remain committed to
strengthening Afghanistan’s presence and performance in this format. The
upcoming Test against Bangladesh will be the first time we host Bangladesh in a
Test match, providing our players with a valuable opportunity to compete in an
important international assignment.”
“Similarly, the two-match Test series
against Zimbabwe presents another valuable opportunity for our players,
particularly our emerging talents, to gain further experience in Test cricket.
The ODI Tri-Nation Series is also of great importance to us as part of our
preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. Afghanistan
Cricket Board remains committed to providing our national team with regular and
high-quality international cricket. We highly value our relationships with the
Bangladesh Cricket Board and Zimbabwe Cricket and appreciate their cooperation
in making these important assignments possible.” He added.
Afghanistan
Test Squad for the One-Off Test against Bangladesh and two-match Test Series
against Zimbabwe:
Rahmat
Shah (Captain), Ikram Alikhail (Vice-Captain & WK), Afsar Zazai (WK),
Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran,
Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz,
Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and Yamin Ahmadzai.
Reserves:
Baheer Shah Mahboob, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, Bilal Sami and Bashir Ahmad.
Afghanistan
Squad for the ODI Tri-Nation Series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe:
Rahmat
Shah (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Vice-Captain & WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK),
Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai,
Mohamamd Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur
Rahman Sharifi, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai.
Travelling
Reserve: Qais Ahmad
Afghanistan T20I Squad for the Three-Match T20I Series against Zimbabwe:
Ibrahim
Zadran (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal,
Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdullah
Tarakhil, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi,
Abdullah Ahmadzai and Farid Ahmad Malik.
Reserves:
Faridoon Dawoodzai, Qais Ahmad and Nangyalai Khan.
Series
Schedule:
|
Date |
Teams
/ Match |
Venue |
|
|
One-Off Test Match |
|||
|
October 9 – 13 |
Afghanistan
vs Bangladesh |
Zayed
Cricket Stadium |
|
|
ODI Tri-Nation Series |
|||
|
October 17 |
Bangladesh
vs Zimbabwe |
1st
Match |
Zayed
Cricket Stadium |
|
October 19 |
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe |
2nd Match |
Zayed Cricket Stadium |
|
October 21 |
Afghanistan
vs Bangladesh |
3rd
Match |
Sharjah
Cricket Stadium |
|
October 23 |
Tri-Nation Series Final |
Final Match |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
|
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe T20I Series |
|||
|
October 27 |
1st T20I Match |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
|
|
October 29 |
2nd
T20I Match |
Sharjah
Cricket Stadium |
|
|
November 1 |
3rd T20I Match |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
|
|
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Two-Match
Series |
|||
|
Nov 5 – 9 |
1st Test Match |
Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
|
|
Nov 13 – 17 |
2nd
Test Match |
Sharjah
Cricket Stadium |
|
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Commercial
Department
Afghanistan
Cricket Board (ACB)
Email: Marketing@Afghancricket.af
Website: www.acb.af