Star spinner returns as Afghanistan announce squad for ZIM vs AFG 2024 Test series

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced the squad for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe starting on December 26. Star spinner Rashid Khan, who last featured in a Test match way back in March 2021 against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi, has made his much-awaited comeback to the squad.

The Afghanistan Cricket Team's all-format Zimbabwe tour kicked off on December 11 with the T20Is. Although the hosts won the opening game by four wickets, Afghanistan clinched the three-match series having secured victories in the second and third T20Is. While Rashid Khan emerged as the highest wicket-taker with nine scalps to his name, pacer Naveen-ul-Haq who took eight wickets was adjudged Player of the Series.

The two nations will square off in three ODIs on December 17, 19 and 21. The Harare Sports Club where the T20Is took place will also be hosting the ODIs before the focus shifts towards the two Test matches which have been scheduled at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Here's Afghanistan's squad for the Test series against Zimbabwe:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Afsar Zazai (WK), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, and Fareed Ahmad Malik.

Reserves: Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, and Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai

Rashid Khan topped the bowling charts when Afghanistan last played a Test series against Zimbabwe

Despite missing the first Test match, Rashid Khan topped the bowling charts of the two-match Test series in 2021, which happens to be the most recent meeting between the two nations in the longer format of the game. The 26-year-old picked up 11 wickets in the second and final Test including an impressive seven-wicket haul in the second innings.

The series ended 1-1 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with Zimbabwe winning the opening clash by 10 wickets and Afghanistan responding with a six-wicket victory in the second.

Expressing his views about Rashid Khan's return and the squad's preparation for the Test series against Zimbabwe, an optimistic ACB interim chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil said (via ACB's official website):

"Rashid Khan returns to the test squad, which is a promising sign for our red ball game going forward. The rest of the team underwent good preparations recently in Nangarhar province, which featured 19 players and all the support staff to work with the players and ensure full preparation for the series. We have thoroughly monitored the proceedings and have picked the squad which includes several new faces, including Ismat Alam, Bashir Ahmad, and Zahir Shehzad, who have performed well during the recent Ahmad Shah Abdali FC Tournament."

Afghanistan have so far played 10 Test matches out of which they have won three, and lost six. The one-off Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida in September ended in no result.