Afghanistan Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: A Detailed Look

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has unveiled its 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. The squad represents a perfect mix of experienced campaigners and young talents ready to shine on the global stage.

Let’s delve into the profiles of the selected players and analyze their roles in Afghanistan’s pursuit of Champions Trophy glory.

The Squad Breakdown

Batting Core

1. Ibrahim Zadran (Top-order batter)
   Known for his solid technique and temperament, Ibrahim Zadran is Afghanistan's go-to player for anchoring innings in challenging conditions.

2. Sediqullah Atal (Top-order batter)
   A promising young batter, Atal brings aggression and flair to Afghanistan's top-order lineup.

3. Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain) (Middle-order batter)
   As the team captain, Shahidi’s calm leadership and dependable batting in the middle overs will be crucial for Afghanistan’s campaign.

4. Rahmat Shah (Vice-Captain) (Middle-order batter)
   Rahmat adds stability and experience to the middle order, ensuring that the team has a solid platform to build competitive totals.

Wicketkeepers

5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper-batter)
   A dynamic opening batter with an explosive approach, Gurbaz is equally skilled behind the stumps.

6. Ikram Alikhil (Wicketkeeper-batter)
   A technically sound wicketkeeper and a handy batter, Ikram offers a backup option for the team.

All-rounders

7. Gulbadin Naib
   With his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, Naib is a versatile asset to the team.

8. Mohammad Nabi
   The veteran all-rounder and former captain continues to be a match-winner for Afghanistan, offering sharp off-spin and lower-order batting strength.

9. Azmatullah Omarzai
   A rising star, Omarzai combines medium-pace bowling with hard-hitting lower-order batting.

10. Rashid Khan
    A superstar of global cricket, Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s biggest weapon. His leg-spin, combined with his batting skills, makes him an invaluable asset.

Spin Arsenal

10. AM Ghazanfar
    A promising young spinner, Ghazanfar provides depth to Afghanistan's already impressive spin attack.

11. Noor Ahmad
    Another emerging talent, Noor Ahmad’s left-arm unorthodox spin offers a variation that can trouble the opposition.

Pace Department

13. Fazalhaq Farooqi (Fast bowler)
    The spearhead of Afghanistan’s pace attack, Farooqi’s ability to swing the ball both ways makes him a potent threat.

14. Naveed Zadran (Fast bowler)
    A fiery pacer, Naveed provides extra pace and bounce, complementing the team’s bowling unit.

15. Farid Ahmad Malik (Fast bowler)
    A reliable left-arm pacer, Farid adds variety to Afghanistan’s pace attack.

Reserves

• Darwish Rasooli (Middle-order batter): A promising batter waiting for his opportunity.
• Nangyal Kharoti (Spin bowler): A young spinner with potential to contribute if called upon.
• Bilal Sami (Fast bowler): A backup option to bolster the pace department when needed.

Afghanistan squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 

Happy with our 15-member #AfghanAtalan lineup for the ICC Champions Trophy!? 🤩🏆#ChampionsTrophy 🔗: https://t.co/uZfvLZ8U8D pic.twitter.com/7bmUJuzHFb

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 12, 2025

Afghanistan Fixtures at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

ALSO READ:IPL 2025 Schedule: Tournament Set to Start from March 23, Announces BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla

South Africa Sports Minister Calls for Boycott of Afghanistan in Champions Trophy

McKenzie is an advocate for keeping Afghanistan out of global sports competitions because the country's leaders are violating human rights. Ever since the Taliban took over in August 2021, things have become very bad there. They're greatly reducing what women can do or learn, and people around the world are very angry about it.

McKenzie's remarks are in line with those of British politicians who have urged England to reconsider playing Afghanistan in the tournament. Both England and South Africa are placed in the same group as Afghanistan for the One Day International (ODI) competition. This grouping has amplified calls for both teams to withdraw from fixtures, as the international community pressures countries to take a stand against Afghanistan’s regressive policies towards women. The Champions Trophy, one of the premier events in international cricket, is set to begin next month in Pakistan. As the debate over the boycott continues to gather momentum, it remains to be seen whether other nations will follow suit, demanding action over Afghanistan’s controversial stance on women's rights.

South Africa's Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has expressed strong opposition to his country’s scheduled match against Afghanistan in the upcoming Champions Trophy, scheduled for February 21 in Karachi. McKenzie stated that while the final decision on whether to boycott the fixture lies with the cricketing authorities, he would personally advocate for a boycott if it were up to him.

ALSO READ: 'Don't see Rohit Sharma going to England' - Adam Gilchrist foresees bleak future for the Indian skipper in Test cricket

🚨 SPORTS MINISTER CALLS FOR BOYCOTT IN CT 2025. 🚨

- South African Sports Minister wants South Africa to boycott the match against Afghanistan to take a firm stand with women. pic.twitter.com/TYWh6ZAcw7

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 9, 2025

South Africa's Sports Minister Urges Boycott of Afghanistan in Champions Trophy Over Women's Rights

“It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” McKenzie said, underscoring his firm stance against Afghanistan's participation in the tournament. Both England and South Africa are placed in the same group as Afghanistan for the One Day International (ODI) competition, leading to growing pressure to withdraw from the fixtures in response to the Taliban government's harsh treatment of women's rights since they regained power in August 2021.

The South African team is set to face Afghanistan in their opening match of the Champions Trophy in Karachi on February 21. McKenzie, reflecting on South Africa's own history of Apartheid, further emphasized the moral dilemma at hand. “As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world,” he added

This call for action has been echoed by more than 160 British politicians, who have signed a cross-party letter urging the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to boycott England’s fixture against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26. In response, ECB chief executive Richard Gould has called for a consistent, unified approach from all member nations regarding Afghanistan's involvement in international cricket. Australia is also scheduled to play Afghanistan on February 28 in Lahore. Cricket Australia had previously postponed a bilateral men’s T20 series against Afghanistan in March 2023, citing the deteriorating human rights situation for women and girls under Taliban rule. However, Cricket Australia did play Afghanistan in both the 2023 ICC Men's World Cup in India and the T20 World Cup in June. 

Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird defended his organization’s stance last month, stating that they were "very proud of the position we’ve taken." Despite facing accusations of hypocrisy, he reiterated that they were standing by their decision to take a firm stand on the issue. As the Champions Trophy draws near, the debate over Afghanistan’s participation continues to intensify, with more nations being urged to make their stance clear on the matter.

In a major turn of events, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have appointed Pakistani batting legend Younis Khan as a mentor for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 47-year-old previously served as a batting consultant for Afghanistan in 2022.  On Wednesday, January 8th, the news was officially made public by the national cricketing body. Younis is expected to join the Afghan camp shortly just before the tournament kicks off on February 19. 

See also: Martin Guptill announces international cricket retirement

ACB's recent statement which confirms Younis' appointment as a mentor

On Wednesday, in a recent press release, the ACB spokesman Sayeed Naseem Sadat confirmed Younis Khan's appointment as a mentor. During his prime days, Younis served as a pillar for Pakistan across all formats. In his nearly two-decades-long international career, he scored 10,099 runs in 118 Tests, including a memorable triple-century against Sri Lanka (313). Furthermore, also reached the number-one spot in the ICC Test rankings. Under his leadership, Pakistan lifted their maiden T20 World Cup trophy in 2009.

“ACB has assigned former experienced top-order Pakistani player Younis Khan as Mentor for Champions Trophy 2025. He (Younis) will join the team before the event starts in Pakistan.” 

After calling quits, Younis shifted his attention to coaching. Over the course of a few years, Younis enriched his coaching record and took a number of mentoring roles for the Pakistan Cricket team and Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). In addition, he also tried his luck in the shortest format of the game and worked as a head coach for the Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Afghanistan's strange inclination towards hiring foreign coaching personnel

Afghanistan have earned a reputation for drafting foreign players into the coaching setup. During the ODI World Cup in India, Afghanistan had the services of the former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja. Under his supervision, Afghanistan had a memorable run in the World Cup unlike the previous editions, and finished sixth, including victories against England and Pakistan. Notably, Jadeja offered his services without seeking any payment in return.

Last year in the T20 World Cup which was jointly hosted by West Indies and the USA, Windies all-rounder DJ Bravo served as a bowling consultant for Afghanistan. Although they officially did not have a mentor for that tournament, the team managed to reach the semi-finals for the first time in its history. 

The appointment of Younis Khan highlights Afghanistan's significant inclination towards including foreign coaches from the country where the tournament is expected to be held. With the Champions Trophy slated to be jointly hosted by Pakistan and the UAE, Afghanistan can definitely profit from Younis' rich expertise. The Pakistani batting legend comes across as a natural leader and has the potential to scale Afghanistan's batting department to new heights. 

The harsh treatment of women in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has drawn sharp condemnation and outrage from various pockets of the world. Western nations have largely been vocal about this sensitive topic and have consistently highlighted this grave issue time and again on a global scale. This also includes England as well and there are countless voices within the country who have urged the national cricketing body to boycott England's match against Afghanistan in the upcoming Champions Trophy which is scheduled to take place on February 26.

See also: Former Australia all-rounder comes out of retirement to help injury-hit Sydney Thunder

Plea to boycott England's upcoming CT 2025 fixture with Afghanistan 

It is reported that as many as 160 politicians have reached out to the ECB in writing advising them to boycott the fixture. Moreover, they also urged the management to speak up on the atrocities that are being committed against women in Afghanistan and not turn a blind eye to the horrendous crimes that are being committed by the brutal Taliban regime. 

"We strongly urge the England men's team players and officials to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban. We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan… to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated."

Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi also echoed the same sentiments and wrote to the ECB chief executive Richard Gould about standing up for the Afghan women and advised the ECB to deliver a powerful message to the Taliban government. 

"We must stand against sex apartheid, and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked."

ECB denies calls to boycott Afghanistan game

In response to growing discontent among several politicians in the UK, the ECB chief recognized the issue and strongly expressed his concerns about women's rights in Afghanistan. But at the same time, he refrained from the possibility of boycotting England's match with Afghanistan as he expects a uniform approach from all member nations rather than acting solo.

"ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. We understand the concerns raised by those who believe that a boycott of men's cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban's efforts to suppress freedoms and isolate Afghan society."

ICC expects all full member nations to make adequate provisions for the growth and development of women's cricket in its own jurisdiction. But since that requirement has not been met by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), the ECB has distanced itself from scheduling bilateral events with them for the foreseeable future. However, the two teams will continue to face each other in ICC events.

England is not the only member nation to voice their concerns over Afghinstan's gross women's rights issue. Australia have also withdrawn from playing several men's series against Afghanistan in the last couple of years because of the Taliban regime's harsh treatment of women.

As 2024 draws to a conclusion, the One-Day International format (ODI) in men's cricket continues to have a constant and prominent presence. Several players, particularly from Asia, showed their mettle.

The ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 provided an excellent opportunity for the teams to test their assets and evaluate individuals. The Champions Trophy, however, would not feature Sri Lanka or the West Indies. Notably, numerous Sri Lankan players made significant contributions this year. Charith Asalanka, one of the picked players, heads the team.

Overall, this year's primary attention was on the T20 World Cup and Test cricket, and as a result, ODIs were somewhat overlooked as we approached the Champions Trophy, and we should expect a different scene in the coming days. On that note, we present to you, the Cricket Winner ODI Team of the Year, 2024 edition. 

The T20I format of cricket has always been one such game mode that has enthralled fanatics. 2024 served a high dose of cricket's high-octane action in the shortest format. The year saw India's wait for an ICC title end, with the Men in Blue getting their hands on the ICC Men's T20 World Cup when they beat South Africa in a memorable final in Barbados.

Also, it does not take away the fact that many underdogs have shined on the international stage, and new arsenals have a new platform to give it all in the sport of cricket. Overall, the year has seen the format's evolution in the most optimistic ways possible.

That said, from the house of Cricket Winner, here we present to you the Playing XI of the Year, the 2024 edition. 

AFG vs SA Match Preview

After capturing some famous victories and running eventual winners Australia close during the one-day international tournament last October and November, Afghanistan's decision to seal the series ahead of the final game ought to come as no surprise. They have improved in all disciplines, and now have the opportunity to establish themselves as a major player ahead of next year's ICC Champions Trophy. Afghanistan has two players Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan who are still young but have a lot of experience and consistently deliver world-class performances.

AFG vs SA Match Details

Afghanistan vs South Africa – 3rd Match, ODI Match

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Date & Time: 22th September 2024 at 05:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

AFG vs SA Venue Stats

AFG vs SA Pitch Report

Despite the bowlers dominating and the batters struggling, South Africa demonstrated the quality of the batting surface at the Stadium game.

AFG vs SA Weather Report

The conditions are expected to be very similar to what we saw in the first two games, with sunshine throughout and temperatures in the mid-twenties from start to finish.

AFG vs SA Last Five Matches

AFG vs SA Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Afghanistan Test captain Ben Stokes returns for Pakistan tour

AFG vs SA Probable Playing XIs:

South Africa Probable Playing XIs

Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Bjorn Fortuin, Nqabayomzi Peter, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ikram Alikhil (wk), AM Ghazanfar, Nangeyalia Kharote, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Topmost Picks for AFG vs SA Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Rahmanullah Gurbaz hopes to give the team a strong start in this match and take some pressure off the middle order.
• Fazalhaq Farooqi – Fazalhaq Farooqi put up a brilliant display on the slow surface, sending half of the opposition’s team back to the dugout in 8 overs.

Top Picks – South Africa

• Wiaan Mulder – Wiaan Mulder was the only batter to hold his head up high after hitting 52 runs of South Africa's 106. Another strong performance in this ODI and he could well be pushed up the order.
• Lungi Ngidi – He has to rely on accuracy on a surface where some low-boucne can trouble the batters. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for AFG vs SA Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Azmatullah Omarzai, Wiaan Mulder, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Rashid Khan(C), Fazalhaq Farooqi(VC)

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for AFG vs SA Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(VC), Azmatullah Omarzai(C), Wiaan Mulder, Nandre Burger, Nangeyalia Kharote, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Fazalhaq Farooqi, Aiden Markram

Vice-captain – Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai

Wicketkeeper – Rahmanullah Gurbaz

AFG vs SA Probable Winners:

The gap between the teams has been far greater than expected prior to the series, and Afghanistan will enter the final ODI with high confidence! With all aspects of South Africa's play falling far behind Afghanistan's, we expect another comfortable win for Afghanistan in Sharjah. Considering the team combination, Afghanistan is expected to win this match.

AFG vs SA Match Preview

Everyone expected an intense three-match ODI series in Sharjah between Afghanistan and South Africa, but no one expected such a one-sided first match, with Afghanistan once again proving that they are a team to be implemented seriously in this format of the game. The Afghans can now complete a famous series win by winning either this or Sunday's third ODI, and after such a remarkable bowling performance on Wednesday, South Africa's batters will have to find a better way to deal with them in this game on Friday.

AFG vs SA Match Details

Afghanistan vs South Africa – 2nd Match, ODI Match

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Date & Time: 20th September 2024 at 05:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

AFG vs SA Venue Stats

AFG vs SA Pitch Report

Despite the bowlers dominating and the batters struggling, South Africa demonstrated the quality of the batting surface at the Stadium game.

AFG vs SA Weather Report

The conditions are expected to be very similar to what we saw in the first two games, with sunshine throughout and temperatures in the mid-twenties from start to finish.

AFG vs SA Last Five Matches

AFG vs SA Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Afghanistan Test captain Ben Stokes returns for Pakistan tour

AFG vs SA Probable Playing XIs:

South Africa Probable Playing XIs

Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Jason Smith, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Nageyalia Kharote, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Topmost Picks for AFG vs SA Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Rahmanullah Gurbaz hopes to give the team a strong start in this match and take some pressure off the middle order.
• Fazalhaq Farooqi – Fazalhaq Farooqi put up a brilliant display on the slow surface, sending half of the opposition’s team back to the dugout in 8 overs.

Top Picks – South Africa

• Wiaan Mulder – Wiaan Mulder was the only batter to hold his head up high after hitting 52 runs of South Africa's 106. Another strong performance in this ODI and he could well be pushed up the order.
• Lungi Ngidi – He has to rely on accuracy on a surface where some low-boucne can trouble the batters. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for AFG vs SA Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tristan Stubbs, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Reeza Hendricks, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(VC), Bjorn Fortuin, Fazalhaq Farooqi(C), Lungi Ngidi

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for AFG vs SA Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tony de Zorzi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Reeza Hendricks, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram(C), Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai(VC), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Lungi Ngidi

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Fazalhaq Farooqi, Aiden Markram

Vice-captain – Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai

Wicketkeeper – Rahmanullah Gurbaz

AFG vs SA Probable Winners:

We expect South Africa to perform better in the second ODI, but they must have to produce far more using their bat to trouble Afghanistan's strong and exciting team. We predict that Afghanistan will win. Considering the team combination, Afghanistan is expected to win this match.

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand has been abandoned without a ball being bowled. However, it was not the ideal preparation for the New Zealand team who will play crucial World Test Championship matches against Sri Lanka and India. And, coaches of both teams felt it was "frustrating" and "disappointing" as well. 

However, this was only the eighth instance of a Test match being abandoned without a ball being bowled. However, it was the first ever instance in India as well.

"It's frustrating for us" - Gary Stead

"It's frustrating for us," Gary Stead, the New Zealand head coach, said in Greater Noida. "It was our first Test match against Afghanistan and we were really excited about that as well. They've been great competitors of ours over the last few World Cups as well. We've had some great games of cricket. For us, we have the World Test Championship just around the corner in Sri Lanka as well. So, the preparation towards that would have been really useful for us as well. And the most disappointing part for us is that we've lost that ability to be match-hardened and match-ready when we go into our Test match next week. It was an opportunity to play Afghanistan. It doesn't come around that often. They have some unique bowlers in that as well. It's always good to get your head around how you face them and the way they play is a little bit different to other countries."

Meanwhile, Jonathan Trott, the Afghanistan coach, shared the same disappointment but opened up on player safety.

"There were a few things discussed but we looked at the ground today and it was never really going to be attainable, unfortunately," Trott said when asked if a limited-overs game was part of the plan for the fifth and final day. "There's obviously a huge desire to play cricket but the safety of the players - because New Zealand have got huge tours coming up - unfortunately, you've got to take that into account. So as much as we want to play cricket, we don't want anything to go wrong. We have got an important ODI series against South Africa and a few more before the Champions Trophy."

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma comments on his retirement plans after quitting T20Is

However, Trott shared the unfortunate situation at the venue which happened due to unexpected weather. When the covers were finally pulled off on the fifth morning, following that, the match had been called off, as the pitch was wet as well.

"It would have been a good contest, which is a disappointing thing" - Trott

"I think it's a case of time of the year. To try and play a Test match this time of year is always tricky. The facilities... obviously disappointed that we haven't been able to play and the amount of water that's come down is unprecedented for this time of year or the last three days," Trott said.

Stead added: "Yeah, look, I mean it's worth noting, I think, it's been 1200 millimetres of rain in the last week and even though it was fine for those two days, there were thunderstorms the nights before and the ground was just too soft and the umpires deemed that unfit to play on. So that's, sort of, out of the players' hands in a way as well."

"The real sad thing is, I think, it was going to be a really good pitch and it would have been a good contest, which is a disappointing thing," Trott said. "So, that's the most disheartening thing, I suppose, for all of us."

The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand has been abandoned without a ball being bowled at the Greater Noida Sports Ground Complex. However, This became only the 8th Test in the history of cricket to be abandoned this way. This match became the first Test in the 21st century to be abandoned due to rain in Asia as well. It was another day and the same thing happened as the persistent rains didn't allow Afghanistan and New Zealand to play against each other for the very first time.

The AFG vs NZ Test becomes the 8th Test in the history of cricket to be abandoned without a ball being bowled

Day 1 of the Test match was abandoned by heavy rain in the Delhi NCR region, which didn't allow them to take the field. The next day also witnessed a poor outfield with the ground staff taking out the grass from practice pitches to use on the main field and prepare for the game. However, the poor drainage facilities at the venue further added to the woes as umpires declared the ground as unfit for the match. The poor facilities, along with the bad weather, led to the game eventually getting called off as well.

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma comments on his retirement plans after quitting T20Is

In an official announcement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said, "It is still raining in Greater Noida and due to frequent rain, the 5th and final day of the Afghanistan vs New Zealand has also been called off by the match officials."

BCCI offered three venues to Afghanistan

However, this was only the 8th instance of a complete abandonment of a Test match. The first three took place between Australia and England in the Ashes in 1890, 1938 and 1970. The other four incidents happened between 1989 and 1998 as well.

However, the ACB informed that the BCCI offered three venues to them, which also included Dehradun, Kanpur and Greater Noida. Looking at the connectivity between Kabul and Delhi, the Afghanistan Cricket Board picked Greater Noida because it is near to Delhi as well. The Afghans will move to the UAE to host South Africa for a three-match ODI series now, starting next week. Meanwhile, New Zealand will travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series before they return to India for a three-match Test series in October as well.