Rashid Khan sacked as Afghanistan Cricket Board announces squads for Sri Lanka series

On Thursday, March 5, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) National Selection Committee announced the white-ball squads for the series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to start on Friday, March 13, in the UAE.

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Notably, Rashid Khan, who couldn’t propel Afghanistan to the Super8 round of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, has been sacked as the captain, with the top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran assuming the role.

Interestingly, the left-arm pacer Fazal Haq Farooqi, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq, who were part of the squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, have been left out of both squads.

Meanwhile, the wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman, the left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, and left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmad have been selected in the T20I squad for the series in the UAE. 

Additionally, Fareed Ahmad Malik made his comeback to the ODI squad, while fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi received his maiden call-up for the ODI team. Bilal Sami, who picked up a five-wicket haul and was adjudged the Player of the Match in his last ODI, retained his place in the ODI squad.

"Rashid Khan's tenure as the T20I captain brought immense success to the team, particularly highlighted by the team's remarkable journey in the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup, where we reached the semi-finals. In alignment with the ACB's long-term strategic vision and following recent changes in our Team Management, including the appointment of a new head coach, we have made the thoughtful decision to transition the leadership within the T20I setup,” ACB's Chief Selector, Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, said.

"Ibrahim Zadran, who has served as Rashid Khan's deputy, will assume the role of Afghanistan's regular captain in this format. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rashid Khan for his valuable contributions and wish Ibrahim Zadran every success in this important new role," he added.

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"In addition, our long-term goal is to adequately prepare the team for the upcoming two World Cup events. We are hopeful that, under this new leadership, the National Team will not only flourish but also showcase outstanding performances and build a strong and competitive bench strength for the crucial challenges that lie ahead," he said.

Afghanistan's T20I squad:

Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Reserves: Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami and Ijaz Ahmadzai.

Afghanistan's ODI squad:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Bilal Sami.

Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Bashir Ahmad.

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