The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has revealed the 16-member squad for the upcoming singular Test match against Sri Lanka, scheduled to take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo starting from February 2.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the team, with Ikram Alikhil appointed as the vice-captain. Notably, several fresh faces have been included in the lineup, while Rashid Khan will be absent due to ongoing rehabilitation from a back injury.

Naveen Zadran and Mohammad Ishaq have received their inaugural call-up to the squad. Naveen, a right-arm pacer, and Ishaq, a wicket-keeper batsman, showcased commendable performances in the Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class and the recently concluded Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional List A Tournament. Their notable displays during the Afghan Abdalyan’s Tour of Oman in October last year further solidified their places.

This Test match marks Afghanistan’s eighth appearance in the format, and it also serves as their inaugural encounter against Sri Lanka. The team is slated to participate in six more Test matches later in the year, including a two-match home series against Bangladesh and a one-off Test against New Zealand. Having won five out of their seven Test matches thus far, Afghanistan played their maiden Test against India in 2018.

Sulimankhil stated, “The team went through a rigorous two-week preparation camp in Nangarhar, followed by a 10-day conditioning camp in Abu Dhabi. The camps involved all support staff collaborating with the players to ensure thorough preparation for the upcoming series. We have diligently observed the proceedings and selected a squad that includes several promising talents who have excelled in recent domestic events.”

Afghanistan has rapidly emerged as one of the most dynamic cricketing sides globally. The team had a commendable campaign in the ODI World Cup 2023, securing the sixth position with four victories in nine matches. Notably, Afghanistan defeated formidable teams like Pakistan and England and came close to triumphing over Australia.

Following the solitary Test match in Colombo, Afghanistan is scheduled to engage in a three-match ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka. The ODI series is set to commence on February 7, with the T20I series following suit on February 17.

The squad representing Afghanistan for the one-off Test against Sri Lanka

Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmat Shah (Vice-Captain), Ikram Alikhil (Wicketkeeper), Mohammad Ishaq (Wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah, Nasir Jamal, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Nijat Masoud, Mohammad Saleem Safi, and Naveed Zadran comprise Afghanistan’s squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Sri Lanka.

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