Hashmatullah Shahidi Takes the Helm: Afghanistan’s Exciting Debut in the Champions Trophy!

NEW DELHI: Hashmatullah Shahidi has been appointed as ‍the captain of Afghanistan’s‍ cricket team for their ⁤inaugural appearance in the Champions Trophy, as announced by the country’s cricket board on Sunday. The prestigious tournament is set to kick off on February 19.

Afghanistan‌ has shown remarkable progress in recent international competitions, having reached the semifinals of last year’s T20 World Cup and performing admirably at the 2023⁣ ODI World Cup. This upward⁤ trajectory has generated excitement among fans and players alike.

Ibrahim Zadran, who recently recovered from an ankle⁤ injury sustained last year, will join Rahmanullah Gurbaz to form a formidable opening ⁢partnership. The top-order batting ⁢lineup will ⁣be further bolstered by ⁣experienced players like Rahmat Shah and captain Shahidi himself.

The bowling attack features star spinner Rashid Khan, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, and ⁢pace bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi—key figures expected to make significant⁢ contributions during matches. Notably absent ⁣from this squad is Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, who played a vital role in Afghanistan’s‌ performance at⁢ the 2023 ODI World Cup.

In addition to the main squad of 15 players, three reserve members have‌ also been ⁢included for​ added depth. As they prepare for their first Champions Trophy campaign, Afghanistan aims to ⁣leave a lasting impression on this global stage.

Upcoming Matches for Afghanistan

Group Stage Fixtures:

• February 21: ⁤Afghanistan vs South Africa​ (Karachi)
• February 26: ⁢Afghanistan vs England‍ (Lahore)
• February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia (Lahore)

Afghanistan Squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil,
Gulbadin Naib,
Azmatullah ⁣Omarzai,
Mohammad Nabi,
Rashid Khan,
AM Ghazanfar,
Noor Ahmad,
Fazalhaq Farooqi,
Farid Malik,
Naveed Zadran.

Reserves:
Darwish Rasooli,
Nangyal Kharoti,
Bilal Sami.

As they embark on ⁣this exciting journey⁤ into uncharted territory with their first Champions Trophy ⁣participation, all eyes will be‌ on how ‌well they can perform against some of cricket’s elite teams.