Shahidi to Lead Afghanistan Across Formats as ACB Announces Strong Squads for India Tour

Kabul, May 2026 : Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead Afghanistan in both the ODI series and the one-off Test against India, with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Monday announcing strong and balanced squads for the upcoming multi-format tour.

The board unveiled two separate 15-member squads for the Test and ODI legs of the tour, confirming Shahidi’s leadership role across both formats. The selections underline Afghanistan’s intent to field a competitive unit against India in what is being seen as a significant international assignment for the developing cricket nation.

The squads feature several of Afghanistan’s established stars, including Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai, forming the core of the visiting team across formats. The blend of experienced campaigners and young talents reflects Afghanistan’s evolving depth in international cricket.

In the ODI squad, Afghanistan have retained a largely settled white-ball combination. Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are expected to open the innings, providing an aggressive start at the top. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, along with Rahmat Shah and Darwish Rasooli, will form the backbone of the middle order, expected to provide stability and control during the innings.

The all-round department remains one of Afghanistan’s biggest strengths, with seasoned campaigner Mohammad Nabi and dynamic Azmatullah Omarzai expected to contribute with both bat and ball, offering flexibility to the team’s balance.

The bowling attack is once again expected to revolve around world-class leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who continues to be Afghanistan’s most influential match-winner in limited-overs cricket. He will be supported by emerging spinner AM Ghazanfar and a pace unit comprising Bilal Sami, Fareed Malik and Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi. Nangyal Kharotai has also been included as part of the bowling resources.

Meanwhile, Qais Ahmad, Saleem Safi and Bashir Ahmad have been named as reserves for the ODI squad, providing additional depth in case of injuries or tactical changes during the series.

For the one-off Test match, Afghanistan have made a few notable changes, opting for a slightly different combination tailored to red-ball cricket. Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Zadran and Sharafudin Ashraf have been included in the Test setup, strengthening the batting and spin options for the longer format.

Senior players Rahmat Shah and Rahmanullah Gurbaz retain their places in the Test squad, while wicketkeeping responsibilities are shared between Ikram Alikhil and Afsar Zazai, offering flexibility behind the stumps.

Interestingly, Rashid Khan has not been included in the Test squad, with Afghanistan instead opting for a spin unit comprising Qais Ahmad, Nangyal Kharotai and Sharafudin Ashraf, indicating a strategy focused on workload management and red-ball balance.

The much-anticipated India–Afghanistan series will begin with a one-off Test in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10, before shifting to the limited-overs leg. The three-match ODI series will be played across Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai on June 13, 17 and 20 respectively.

Afghanistan ODI Squad:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami.
Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Saleem Safi, Bashir Ahmad.

Afghanistan Test Squad:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi, Saleem Safi.
Reserves: Bashir Ahmad, Bahir Shah, Ismat Alam.

With a well-balanced squad and experienced leadership, Afghanistan will look to challenge India strongly across both formats in what promises to be a high-profile and closely watched tour.

Team Maverick