AFGHANISTAN TEST SQUAD

The Afghanistan National Cricket Team, founded in 2001 and owned by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), achieved a significant milestone on June 22, 2017, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted them prestigious Test status. This followed their earlier achievement of One Day International (ODI) status in 2011. Afghanistan played its inaugural Test match in June 2018 against India in Bengaluru.

Name	Role	Batting/Bowling	Jersey No
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain)	Batter	Batting: Left hand bat Bowling: Slow left arm orthodox	50
Rahmat Shah (Vice Captain)	Batter	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Legbreak	8
Ibrahim Zadran	Batter	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium	17
Nasir Jamal	Batter	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right arm Offbreak, Legbreak Googly	19
Bahir Shah	Batter	Batting: Right-handed Bowling: Right-arm off-break
Karim Janat	Allrounder	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium fast	11
Abdul Malik	Allrounder	Batting: Right-handed Bowling: Right-arm off-break	27
Nijat Masood	Allrounder	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium fast	12
Ikram Alikhil	Wicketkeeper	Batting: Left Hand bat	15
Rahmanullah Gurbaz	Wicketkeeper	Batting: Right hand bat	21
Khalil Gurbaz	Allrounder	Batting: Right-handed Bowling: Right-arm off-break
Rashid Khan	Bowler	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Legbreak	19
Zahir Khan	Bowler	Batting: Left hand bat Bowling: Slow left arm orthodox
Zia-ur-Rahman	Bowler	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Slow left arm orthodox	18
Mohammad Ibrahim	Bowler	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium
Naveed Zadran	Bowler	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium	58
Yamin Ahmadzai	Bowler	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium	99
Qais Ahmad	Bowler	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Legbreak	32
Mohammed Saleem	Bowler	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium	24
Mohammed Ishaq	Wicketkeeper	Batting: Right hand bat	27
Ismat Alam	Batting Allrounder	Batting: Right hand Bat Bowling: Right arm Fast medium
Allah Ghazanfar	Bowler	Batting: Right hand Bat Bowling: Right arm Offbreak
Afsar Zazai	Wicketkeeper Batter	Batting: Right hand bat	40
Fareed Ahmad	Bowler	Batting: Left hand bat Bowling: Left arm Fast medium	36
Shahidullah	Batting Allrounder	Batting: Left hand bat Bowling: Slow Left arm Orthodox	25
Azmatullah Omarzai	Allrounder	Batting: Right hand bat Bowling: Right-arm medium fast	9
Riaz Hassan	Batter	Batting: Right hand bat	76
Sediqullah Atal	Batter	Batting: Left hand bat	50

ABOUT THE AFGHANISTAN TEST SQUAD

Captain –  Rashid Khan
Vice Captain – Rahmat Shah
Head Coach – Jonathan Trott
Batting /Bowling Coach – Andrew Puttick, Hamid Hassan
Fielding/Assistant Coach – Shane McDermott, R Sridhar

History and Key Events

Foundation and Early Popularity

Cricket gained popularity among Afghan refugees in Pakistan during the 1990s, with many players initially learning the sport in refugee camps and participating in Pakistan’s domestic circuit.

Formal Establishment & ICC Recognition

The Afghanistan Cricket Federation (now ACB) was formed in 1995. After the Taliban approved cricket in 2000, the ICC granted recognition to Afghanistan cricket in 2001.

Pathway to Test Status and First Match

Following their achievement of ODI status in 2011, consistent performances led the ICC to grant Afghanistan Test status on June 22, 2017. They played their first Test match in June 2018 against India in Bengaluru.

Coaching and Player Development

Andrew James Moles (Andy Moles) is recognized as the “architect of our first ever golden generation” for his long coaching tenure. He was instrumental in shaping the 2018 U19 team that reached the U19 World Cup semi-finals and won the U19 Asia Cup, with most players from that side now representing the national team. Former England international Jonathan Trott was appointed head coach ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Recent Test Series

Afghanistan is scheduled to play a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe from December 26, 2024, to January 6, 2025. This will mark Afghanistan’s 11th Test match overall and their third against Zimbabwe.

Achievements and Records

• Test Status: Granted by the ICC in 2017.
• First Test Match: Played in June 2018.
• Test Victories: Achieved against Ireland (2019), Bangladesh (2019), and Zimbabwe (2021).
• Domestic Talent Pipeline: Their robust first-class system has produced promising batters like Riaz Hassan and Bahir Shah, both boasting first-class averages above 55. Additionally, the 2022 U19 batch produced excellent fast bowlers, with Naveed Zadran already a regular in Test cricket after topping domestic performances.

Famous Players

• Rashid Khan: A global superstar and a key bowler in the Test format, having played 5 Tests.
• Mohammad Nabi: A veteran who has been part of the team since its early struggles and notably played in Afghanistan’s first Test match in 2018.
• Hashmatullah Shahidi: The current Test Captain, known for his batting prowess with 731 runs in 9 Tests, including a high score of 246.
• Rahmat Shah: The current Test Vice-Captain, a class player in the batting lineup, with 812 runs from 10 Tests.
• Ibrahim Zadran: An important and “class” batter in the Test lineup, having played 7 Tests and scored 541 runs.
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman: A key bowler for the team who has played 1 Test match.
• Yamin Ahmadzai: A Test bowler who debuted in 2018 and has taken 13 wickets in 6 Tests.
• Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil: Both wicketkeeper-batters who have played Tests for Afghanistan.
• Sediqullah Atal: A left-handed top-order batter who recently earned his maiden Test call-up.
• Riaz Hassan and Bahir Shah: Promising young batters with impressive domestic first-class records, anticipated to contribute significantly to the team’s future in Test cricket.

FAQs

Leadership

Player Focus

Coaching Staff

Historical & Upcoming Matches