Offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has made a comeback to Afghanistan’s white-ball squads for the Zimbabwe tour, marking his return to international cricket after a five-month hiatus due to a hand injury. Mujeeb last played for Afghanistan in June but recently returned to competitive cricket at the Abu Dhabi T10 league.
Zubaid Akbari, a top-order batter, earned his maiden T20I call-up following an impressive showing at the Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20, where he was among the leading run-scorers. Additionally, Darwish Rasooli, who led Afghanistan A to their maiden Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 victory earlier this year, has also been recalled to the T20I squad.
Afghanistan, however, will miss Ibrahim Zadran, who is still recovering from ankle surgery. Noor Ahmad has been named exclusively in the T20I squad, while Riaz Hassan has been left out of the ODI squad.
The tour includes three T20Is and three ODIs, with a revised schedule aimed at maximizing spectator attendance. The T20Is will now take place on December 11, 13, and 14, followed by ODIs on December 17, 19, and 21, all at Harare Sports Club. Two Test matches are also slated between December 26, 2024, and January 6, 2025, with the Test squad yet to be announced.
Afghanistan squad for Zimbabwe ODIs
- Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi
- Vice-captain: Rahmat Shah
- Players: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, Farid Ahmad Malik
Afghanistan squad for Zimbabwe T20Is
- Captain: Rashid Khan
- Players: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Ishaq, Sediqullah Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Zubaid Akbari, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq