Rashid Khan back as Afghanistan name full strength squad for T20I series vs India

Ahead of their three-match T20I series in India, Afghanistan has announced its squad for the series. Ibrahim Zadran will be the captain of the side with veteran Mohammad Nabi also part of the team.

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Superstar bowler Rashid Khan is also part of the team after recovering from his niggles. Most of the team is the same as the one that played the 2023 ODI World Cup. Afghanistan missed a place in the Semi-Finals after their run was halted by Glenn Maxwell’s brilliance.

Team India is yet to announce its team for the series. It is believed that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be back in contention ahead of the T20 World Cup. The veteran batting duo last played a T20I for India during the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Team India’s last chance to prepare for T20I World Cup –

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Ibrahim Zadran will lead the Afghanistan Cricket Team as they tour India for the first time to play in a bilateral series. The first match is set to be held in Mohali with the next two games in Indore and Bengaluru.

This is the last T20I series for India to prepare for the 2024 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Team India will begin their tournament against Ireland followed by the big clash versus Pakistan. The men in blue will then play against the USA and Canada to round off their Group A commitments. 

Three games will be played in New York, including the big India versus Pakistan game. Florida will host the India vs Canada game before the tournament moves to the Caribbean, The schedule announced late on Friday night has left many in anticipation of a huge series ahead.

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Veteran spinner Piyush Chawla feels that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli want to add the elusive silverware before calling time on their careers. The 35-year-old said during a show on Star Sports “You can look at it differently as well because Kohli and Rohit must be thinking the other way. They want to do special to really win the World Cup”

Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are set to miss the series. There is firm hope that some of the younger players of the side will be given more chances. As the clock ticks there is massive anticipation building for the series to start on January 11.

Afghanistan Team for India series - 

Ibrahim Zadran (C), R. Gurbaz, H. Zazai, I. Alikhil, R. Shah, M. Nabi, N. Zadran, K. Janat, A. Omarzai, S. Ashraf, M. Rahman, F. Malik, F. Farooqi, N. Haq, N. Ahmed, M. Saleem, Q. Ahmed, G. Naib, and Rashid Khan.