Afghanistan names squads for June India tour with Shahidi as captain

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has named its squads for a multi-format tour of India in June, with Hashmatullah Shahidi confirmed as captain for both the one-off Test and the three-match ODI series. The tour will begin with the Test match in New Chandigarh from June 6, followed by ODIs in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai.

Star spinner Rashid Khan will be available only for the ODI series, continuing his absence from Test cricket. According to officials, his omission from the red-ball squad is part of a workload management plan following back surgery, with medical advice indicating he should avoid the longer format to preserve his career in limited-overs cricket.

The Test squad features a blend of experience and new faces. Seasoned players like Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Azmatullah Omarzai are included, while uncapped batter Rahmanullah Zadran could make his international debut. Wicketkeeping duties will be shared by Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil, with the spin department led by Sharafudin Ashraf and Qais Ahmad.

For the ODI series, Afghanistan has recalled experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi alongside Rashid Khan. The batting lineup is bolstered by opener Ibrahim...