The prolific opener returns from injury but spinner Mujibur Rahman will miss the match as he recovers from a sprained hand.
Afghanistan has recalled resurgent batsman Ibrahim Zadran to the ICC Champions Trophy squad, amid continued calls for teams to boycott matches against them due to the Taliban government’s crackdown on women’s rights since its return to power in 2021.
Obner Zadran has recovered from ankle surgery to join the 15-man squad named by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Sunday.
Right-arm bowler Mujibur Rahman was not included in the squad as the team management decided not to bring him back to 50-over cricket after he sprained his hand last year.
Fellow spinner AM Ghazanafar was similarly drafted as Mujeeb’s replacement. Siddiqullah Atal, the quick opener, also earned a place in the team.
A statement issued by the Asian Football Confederation said: “Zadran, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury, has returned to the team.”
“However, Mujibur Rahman was unable to choose, as AM Ghazanfar, a similarly enigmatic player, took part in the mega event.”
Acting ACB chief selector Ahmed Sulaiman Khel added that Rahman was ruled out because his “doctor has advised him to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery”.
Afghanistan has made impressive progress in ICC world events in recent years – finishing sixth in the 50-over World Cup in 2023 and reaching the semi-finals in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
This will be the first time that Afghanistan will participate in the eight-nation Champions Cup, which is being held from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
The country has brought in former Pakistan captain Younis Khan to guide the team.
“Afghanistan has performed exceptionally well in the last two ICC events,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board president said in a statement.
“Their impressive performances in these two events coupled with their victories in the ODI series last year will undoubtedly boost their morale and help them put up an even better campaign this time,” ACB President Mirwais Ashraf said.
The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side could face some distractions off the field in Pakistan, as Group B rivals England and South Africa are urged to boycott their matches.
Both the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa have ruled out boycotting Afghanistan in multi-team competitions organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The councils said they preferred a unified and collective approach from all members of the ICC.
Afghanistan begins its campaign against South Africa in Karachi on February 21.
a team: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rehmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ikram Alikhil (wicket-keeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Siddiqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbuddin Nayeb, Rashid Khan, AAM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmed Fazl Haq Farooqi, Naveed. Zadran, Farid Ahmed Malik
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