ZIM vs AFG 2025: Rashid Khan rested for one-off Test, to return for T20Is

Rashid Khan has been rested for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, with Hashmatullah Shahidi set to lead the team in the red-ball game. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stated the Rashid has been rested as a "precautionary measure to prioritise his well-being for the upcoming international events". Rashid will be back to skipper the T20I outfit during the three-match series.

Meanwhile, pacer Ziaur Rahman, left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf and leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz have earned Test call-ups after impressing in the domestic red-ball circuit. Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Shahidullah has been included in both the Test and T20I squads. The Hashmatullah-led unit also includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Bahir Shah, and wicketkeepers Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil.

As far as the T20I squad is concerned, Rashid returned as skipper with Zadran as his vice-captain. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, who made debut earlier in 2024, has also been called up. Experienced players like  Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad form the core of the T20I setup alongside pacers Fareed Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai.

The series will be played from October 20 to November 2, with Harare set to host all games.

Afghanistan's Test squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhel (wk), Bahir Shah, Shahidullah, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ziaur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz and Bashir Ahmad

Reserves: Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Sediqullah Atal, Shams Ur Rahman

Afghanistan's T20I squad

Rashid Khan (c), Ibrahim Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar and Faridoon Dawoodzai