Afghanistan Cricket Team. Image Credits: AFP
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a strong 15-player Afghanistan squad for the upcoming ODI tour of Ireland. The series will mark Rahmat Shah’s first international assignment since becoming Afghanistan’s full-time ODI and Test captain.
Just a few days ago, Rahmat was named as the successor of Hashmatullah Shahidi after the latter quit captaincy.
Fazalhaq Farooqi returns, Mohammad Nabi dropped for Ireland ODIs
The ACB has named a 15-player Afghanistan squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series in Ireland. The selection committee announced the group on Friday, July 24, i.e., a couple of weeks prior to the series.
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Senior fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi will be making his return to the national side after missing the series in India last month. Legendary all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, however, was dropped from the side, as confirmed by the ACB.
Yamin Ahmadzai, who last played any form of international cricket for Afghanistan back in October 2025, also received a surprise call-up for the Ireland tour.
Afghanistan to usher Rahmat Shah era in Ireland
Rahmat Shah was appointed as Afghanistan captain a few days ago as a replacement of Hashmatullah Shahidi. The series will now mark Rahmat’s first assignment since becoming Afghanistan’s full-time captain.
Even though Shahidi recently tendered his resignation as skipper, the senior batter was retained in the 15-player squad for the tour of Ireland.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz will serve as Rahmat Shah’s deputy, and star performers like Ibrahim Zadran, seasoned all-rounder Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai and AM Ghazanfar also made it to the 15-player group. Here is a look at the entire Afghanistan squad for the ODI series in Ireland.
Afghanistan squad for Ireland ODIs: Rahmat Shah (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vc), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Nangyal Kharotai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Saleem Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.
Reserve players: Qais Ahmad, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami, Bashir Ahmad.
Afghanistan to face Ireland in Bready and Belfast
As per the schedule, the Afghanistan cricket team will take on Ireland in a five-match ODI series. The series will be played between August 5 and August 14 next month.
While the first three ODIs will be hosted by the Bready Cricket Club Ground in Bready, Magheramason on August 5, August 7 and August 10, the final two ODIs will be played on August 12 and August 14 at the Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast.
The series will also serve as a crucial testing ground for both sides in their road towards the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe next year.
Quite recently, the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan side suffered a 0-3 whitewash in the three-match ODI series in India. However, Afghanistan won its preceding ODI series by a 3-0 margin, albeit against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi back in October 2025 last year.
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