New Delhi, March 15 (HS). Rashid Khan has been named in Afghanistan's squad for the upcoming T20 International series against Ireland, meaning he has now fully recovered from the back injury and subsequent surgery that ruled him out of the 2023 World Cup. Has been kept out of action since.
Rashid had missed the Big Bash League, SA20 and Afghanistan's matches against UAE, India, Sri Lanka and now the Test and ODI matches against Ireland due to injury. He had traveled to India with the team in January, but it was not right for him to go at that time.
Rashid was the highest wicket taker for Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup with 11 wickets. If he can get fit and take the field here, it would be good news for Afghanistan as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies in June. This will also be good news for Gujarat Titans, whom Rashid represents in the IPL. The Titans team will start its IPL 2024 campaign on March 24.
Apart from Rashid, Mujeeb ur Rehman, who was recovering from a right side sprain, has also returned. Uncapped all-rounder Ijaz Ahmed Ahmedzai has also been included in the 15-man squad, along with Mohammad Ishaq, who made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in February. Left-arm spinner Nangyelia Kharote, who performed brilliantly on debut in the third ODI of the ongoing tour, is also set to make her T20I debut. The team also includes opening batsman Sediqullah Atal, who last played for Afghanistan in the Asian Games in October.
Afghanistan will host Ireland for three T20 matches in Sharjah on March 15, 17 and 18 in this series. Afghanistan had won the previous ODI series 2–0, while Ireland recorded their first win in a one-off Test match.
Afghanistan's squad for the T20 series against Ireland is as follows-
Rashid Khan (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ijaz Ahmed Ahmedzai, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Azmatullah Umarzai, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wafdar Momand, Farid Ahmed, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqui.