2024-02-12 21:49:49
Afghanistan’s T20 series against Sri Lanka will start from Saturday. Cricket Afghanistan has announced a 16-member squad for this series on Monday. Rashid Khan is not in the team as he is still not fully recovered from the injury. On the other hand, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was injured before the second ODI, will not be able to play in the T20 series. Besides, Mohammad Salim is not in the team due to hamstring injury. Wafdar Momand got a chance instead.
Ibrahim Zadran will lead the Sri Lankan team in the T20 as usual after the ODI in the absence of Rashid Khan. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Ishaq Rahimi are two wicket-keeper batsmen in the team.
While announcing the team, chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil said that he is trying to form a proper team ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Where there will be the best combination of senior and junior players. After the Sri Lanka series they will play against Ireland. They will get a chance to experiment there before the World Cup. Which will serve them well in selecting the final team for the World Cup.
Afghanistan had a great fight in the T20 series against India in January this year. However, they lost the series 3-0. But in all three matches, they gave India a great challenge. They took two super overs in the last match of the series. Now it is to be seen whether they can throw such a challenge against Sri Lanka.
The three-match T20 series in Dambulla will begin on February 17. After that, the remaining two matches will be held on February 19 and 21.
Afghanistan T20 squad against Sri Lanka:
Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Ishaq Rahimi (wicketkeeper), Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Sharfuddin Ashraf, Fazal Haque Farooqui, Farid Ahmed, Naveen Ul Haque , Noor Ahmad, Wafadar Momand and Kayes Ahmad.