Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
The Afghanistan selectors have announced 15-man squads for the upcoming Asia Cup and the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 which will be played in Bangladesh and India respectively.
Fast bowlers Shapoor Zadran and Hamid Hassan have been recalled for the World T20 tournament whereas Nawroz Mangal has been dropped after a below par showing in the series against Zimbabwe.
Hassan’s last international appearance for Afghanistan was in July 2015 in the World T20 Qualifier against Papua New Guinea in Dublin whereas Shapoor’s last match was against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in October 2015.
Mirwais Ashraf, who took part in the limited overs series against Zimbabwe in the United Arab Emirates has missed out on selection despite taking eight wickets from five One-Day Internationals.
For the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, the 23-year-old fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai will take the place of Hassan, making it the only change in the two squads.
Afghanistan will have to play against Oman, UAE and Hong Kong in the Asia Cup qualifiers while they have to fight it out alongside Hong Kong, Scotland and Zimbabwe in the first round of the World T20.
Prior to the World T20, Afghanistan will also play two warm-up matches against Netherlands on 4th March and against Oman on 6th March in Mohali.
Afghanistan Asia Cup squad:
Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Noor Ali Zadran, Mohammad Shahzad, Usman Ghani, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Sadiq, Shafiqullah, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Yamin Ahmadzai
Afghanistan squad for ICC World T20:
Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Noor Ali Zadran, Mohammad Shahzad, Usman Ghani, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Sadiq, Shafiqullah, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Hamid Hassan
