After a six-year absence, all-arounder Karim Janat rejoined Afghanistan’s ODI squad on Sunday. The selectors also named veteran left-handed batter Najibullah Zadran to the 17-person squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. The team will be led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, a reliable left-handed batter who is renowned for anchoring innings, during the competition, which will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30 to September 17, reports Live Cricket Score.
Fareed Ahmad and Wafadar Momand have been left out of the squad, but Mohammad Saleem Safi and Abdul Rahman, two fast bowlers who participated in Afghanistan’s recent home ODI series against Pakistan, have kept their spots. A side strain has eliminated seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai from the competition.
The team has been expanded to include Gulbadin Naib and Janat as backup all-rounders. A left-arm spin bowling all-rounder named Sharafuddin Ashraf has also been added as a backup spinner. Zadran has been added to the team and is anticipated to recover from the injury before the competition begins. Zadran missed the recently concluded Pakistan series due to a knee injury. He was replaced in the series against Pakistan by Shahidullah Kamal, who was not selected for the Asia Cup team.
