Khan Makes Return to Afghanistan ODI Squad

Afghanistan's cricket team has included uncapped players Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, and Abdul Malik in their squad for the first-ever ODI series against South Africa. Rashid Khan, the renowned leg-spinner, will make his ODI return after participating in the World Cup last October-November. He has been selected for the 17-member squad for the upcoming three-match series set to take place in the UAE.

However, Afghanistan will be without the skilful mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is currently recuperating from a sprained index finger. The team has also decided to leave out wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad, with chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil confirming that off-spinner AM Ghazanfar, who made his ODI debut in March, will replace Mujeeb in the lineup against South Africa.

Rashid's inclusion is a crucial lift for the team, especially in light of Mujeeb and Noor's absences. He was unable to join Afghanistan for the one-off Test against New Zealand due to a medical clearance requirement from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) related to an "ongoing injury."

Rashid underwent back surgery following last year's World Cup, which sidelined him for four months and caused him to miss essential games against the UAE, India, Sri Lanka, and Ireland. He had also opted out of various leagues including the BBL, PSL, and SA20 before returning for T20 matches against Ireland in March.

Since his surgery, Rashid has only played T20 cricket, featuring in leagues like the IPL, T20 World Cup, MLC, The Hundred, and Afghanistan's domestic Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL). However, while playing for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, he sustained a hamstring injury, leading him to miss the closing week of the tournament and re-injured his back during the SCL, where he played three games.

In addition to Rashid, Afghanistan's ODI squad includes uncapped medium-pacer Bilal Sami and top-order batsmen Darwish Rasooli and Abdul Malik. While Rasooli has seven T20I appearances and Malik has played in two Tests, Sami is yet to make his debut for the national team in any format.

Malik has been selected to fill in for injured opener Ibrahim Zadran, who missed the one-off Test due to an ankle sprain and will also be unavailable for the ODIs.

The three-match ODI series will commence on September 18, with all games scheduled in Sharjah. This series represents the first bilateral ODI encounters between Afghanistan and South Africa, who have previously competed only in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.

For Afghanistan, this series is crucial preparation for the Champions Trophy, for which they qualified for the first time after finishing sixth in the league stage of the 2023 World Cup.

Afghanistan Squad for ODIs against South Africa: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad