Afghanistan drop Mohammad Nabi from T20Is as Rasooli misses Bangladesh-Zimbabwe assignments
Afghanistan have dropped Mohammad Nabi from their T20I squad and omitted Darwish Rasooli from both their ODI and T20I teams for a busy run of fixtures against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Mohammad Akram, who made his T20I debut at the 2026 Asian Games, has been called up for the three-match series against Zimbabwe. Young fast-bowling all-rounder Abdullah Tarakhil has also earned a place after impressing in the 11th Shpageeza Cricket League. Ijaz Ahmadzai and Shahidullah Kamal return to the T20I squad, while Fareed Ahmad Malik has moved from the reserves into the 15-player group.
Shahidullah has also been recalled to the Test squad alongside fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai. Both were selected after strong performances in the ongoing Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament 2026: Shahidullah has made 538 runs at 76.85 and leads the competition’s batting standings, while Yamin tops the bowling list with 42 wickets at 12.73. Ismat Alam, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Khalil Gurbaz also return to the Test group.
Rahmat Shah takes charge of Test and ODI sides
Rahmat Shah will captain Afghanistan in both formats after recently becoming the team’s full-time skipper. He led the side to a 4-0 ODI series victory over Ireland in August; the Bangladesh Test will be his first assignment as full-time Test captain.
Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran remain rested from Test cricket. The Afghanistan Cricket Board said medical assessments had advised both players against playing the longer format at this stage.
Schedule and squad plans
Afghanistan’s programme opens with a one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 13. An ODI tri-series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe runs from October 17 to 23, with matches in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe then meet in three T20Is on October 27, October 29 and November 1, before a two-Test series in Sharjah from November 5 to 9 and November 13 to 17.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said the Bangladesh Test would mark the first time Afghanistan host Bangladesh in the format, calling it an important opportunity for the players. He also described the Zimbabwe Tests as a chance for emerging players to gain experience and said the tri-series would contribute to Afghanistan’s preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Afghanistan squads
Test: Rahmat Shah (captain), Ikram Alikhail (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Afsar Zazai, 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.
ODI: Rahmat Shah (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Ikram Alikhil, Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai. Travelling reserve: Qais Ahmad.
T20I: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Rahman, 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.