![Afghanistan ODI squad updated [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1781105266934_Afghanistan.jpg?type=hq)
Afghanistan ODI squad updated [Source: AFP]
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has made a notable change to the Afghanistan national squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against India.
Young fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi, who picked up six wickets in the one-off Test earlier this month, has been added to the ODI squad.
Safi bowled under extreme heat in New Chandigarh and picked up fighting figures of 6-140 to emerge as Afghanistan’s lone bright spot during their innings drubbing at the hands of India.
Senior all-rounders Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi recently skipped Afghanistan’s practise session in Mohali, with the former slated to link up with the squad directly in Dharmashala.
Mohammad Saleem Safi added due to Test heroics
Mohammad Saleem Safi has played just two ODI matches for Afghanistan since his international debut in July 2023.
The 23-year-old fast bowler has now been called back to Afghanistan’s ODI setup after a gap of nearly three years, for the upcoming ODI series against hosts India.
In the recently concluded one-off Test against India, the speedster picked up the important wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, captain Shubman Gill, among others, in his figures of 6-140 in the high-scoring innings.
The 23-year-old toiled away for 23 overs under scorching heat at the Mullanpur Stadium.
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Speaking on Mohammad Saleem Safi’s Test performance against India, Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus said - "He was just fantastic. If you come here and you take six wickets in extreme heat against high-quality batting, that goes very well, not just for him as a bowler, but for us as a side."
Rashid Khan to link up with Afghanistan in Dharamshala
Senior all-rounder and former captain Rashid Khan was not present for Afghanistan's latest training session in Mohali.
The cricketer is expected to link up with the rest of the national squad in Dharamshala prior to the series-opening first ODI on June 13.
Fellow all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was also forced to miss the training session, considering the 41-year-old is 'unwell' at the moment.
Hasmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the Afghanistan squad in the ODI series, and he will be joined by fellow star performers like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai and comeback man Mohammad Saleem Safi, among others.
India vs Afghanistan ODI series schedule
The Afghanistan team started off its tour of India with a huge innings drubbing in New Chandigarh. The two teams will now square off in a three-match ODI series between June 13 and June 20.
The first ODI will be played in Dharamshala on June 13, and the second will be hosted by the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on June 17.
The series will conclude on June 20 with a match at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. The series also serves as a roadmap for both sides in their road towards the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
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