Afghanistan has selected Noor Ahmad, a left-arm wrist spinner, and Gulbadin Naib, an experienced all-rounder, among their 18 players for the three-match One-Day International series against Sri Lanka, which will begin in Kandy this month. 

The team that played Zimbabwe in June of this year included the remaining players selected for the series. Noor hasn’t played an ODI yet, but he has made an impression in T20 leagues, where he has taken 43 wickets. The spinner took a four-for in the main T20I he has played, against Zimbabwe. 

Additionally, he was selected to compete in the UAE-based Asia Cup. Since Afghanistan’s match against Bangladesh in February of this year, former captain Naib has not played an ODI. He also took Hazratullah Zazai’s place in the T20 World Cup squad for the injured Zazai.

ALSO READ: AUS vs ENG, ODI: AUS wins by 72 runs!

“The selectors have included some young faces for the series which is a good sign for us leading into the ICC Cricket World Cup next year. The series is vital for us in terms of our qualification for the mega event next year and I am sure the squad carries enough strength to do well when they get to the field,”

Naseeb Khan, the ACB CEO, was quoted via a press release.

All three ODIs will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, on November 25, 27 and 30 respectively.

Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Riaz Hassan, Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia-ur-Rehman