Ibrahim Zadran returns to Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy squad. cricket news
The brilliant opening batsman returned from injury but spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed out as he recovers from a hand sprain.
Afghanistan have recalled fit-again batsman Ibrahim Zadran to their ICC Champions Trophy squad amid calls for teams to boycott matches against them due to the Taliban government’s crackdown on women’s rights since returning to power in 2021 .
Opener Zadran has recovered from ankle surgery and has been included in the 15-man squad announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Sunday.
Right-arm spin bowler Mujeeb Ur Rahman was not included in the lineup as the team management had decided not to send him back to 50-over cricket after he sprained his hand last year.
Fellow spinner AM Ghazanfar has been included as Mujeeb’s replacement. Fast rising opening batsman Sediqullah Atal has also confirmed his place in the team.
“Zadran, who was sidelined from action due to an ankle injury, has returned to the squad,” an ACB statement said.
“However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed out on selection as one such mystery spinner, AM Ghazanfar, has made it to the mega event.”
Acting ACB chief selector Ahmed Sulaiman Khil said, “Rahman has been ruled out as his doctor has advised him to focus on T20 cricket for some time to fully recover.”
Afghanistan have performed impressively at ICC world events in recent years – finishing sixth at the 2023 50-over World Cup and reaching the semi-finals at the T20 World Cup 2024.
This will be the first time that Afghanistan will be participating in the eight-nation Champions Trophy, which will be held between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
The country has brought in former Pakistan captain Younis Khan to guide the team.
“Afghanistan have performed exceptionally well in the last two ICC events,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman said in a statement.
“Their impressive performances in both these competitions as well as their ODI series win last year will undoubtedly boost their morale and help them deliver an even better campaign this time around,” ACB President Mirwais Ashraf said.
The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side may face some off-field disturbances in Pakistan, with Group B rivals England and South Africa being urged to boycott their matches.
Both the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa have ruled out a boycott against Afghanistan in multi-team competitions organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The board said that they will follow a unified and collective approach of all ICC members.
Afghanistan will begin their campaign against South Africa on February 21 in Karachi.
Shaft: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmed, Fazal Haq Farooqui, Naveed. Jadran, Farid Ahmed Malik
