Uncapped spinner Noor Ahmad in Afghanistan team for ODIs
Afghanistan have named uncapped wrist spinner Noor Ahmad in their ODI squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka which is scheduled to commence on November 25 at the Pallekele International cricket stadium . The second and third ODI’s will be played on November27 and 30 at the same venue at Pallekele and all the matches will be day night games which will commence at 2pm each day.
Afghanistan team will arrive today and the 18 member squad is scheduled to arrive in two batches. The first batch will arrive at 8.30am today while second batch will arrive at 10.40 a.m.
Noor Ahmad, 17 year old spinner is yet to make his ODI debut, but is already popular around the world for his performances in T20 franchise league. He also played in the last LPL for the Galle Galdiators and toured West Indies for the under 19 world cup tournament. On his T20I debut against Zimbabwe earlier this year, Noor had figures of 4/10. Recently, he was part of the T20I squad for the Asia Cup in UAE.
Senior all-rounder Gulbadin Naib also returned to the side after being an injury replacement in the T20 World Cup squad. Rahmanullah Gurbaz the opener and wicket keeper who has lot of experience of playing franchise tournaments played in the last two LPL tournaments (Jaffna Kings and Kandy Tuskers) once again will play in the Sri Lanka series and he is very familiar with Sri Lanka cricket lovers.
“The selectors have included some young faces for the series which is a good sign for us leading into the ICC Cricket World Cup next year,” Naseeb Khan, the CEO of ACB said.”This Sri Lanka series is vital for us in terms of our qualification for the mega event next year and I am sure the squad carries enough strength to do well when they get to the field.”
Afghanistan are currently placed seventh in the Cricket World Cup Super League. The ODI series, which will have all three matches in Kandy, is part of the Super League.
Hashmatullah Shahidi the 28 year oild left hand batter and off spinner will lead the Afghanistan side while 29 year old all rounder Rahmat Shah has been named as Vice Captain of the side. Former skipper Mohammad Nabi experienced leggies Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman also in the 18 member squad. Rashid Khan the hard hitting batter and leg spinner already played 83 ODI’s and 74 T-20 matches is currently ICC ranked number two in T-20 while Wanindu Hasaranga is the ICC T-20 number one bowler. Rashid Khan already ICC ODI ranking number nine while he is ranked number three at ICC ODI all rounder’s list. Mohmmed Nabi the experienced off spinner having ICC ODI all rounders second ranking and Majeeb Ur Rahman is having ICC ODI eighth ranked position. Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka is the only player among the ICC ODI batters list. Nissanka is 10th at ICC ODI batting ranking while Wanindu seventh at All rounders ranking and mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana is number 10in ICC ODI ranking.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka ODI squad for the Afghanistan ODI series is not yet officially announced by Sri Lanka Cricket and it is subject to approval from the Sports Minister. However 16 member Sri Lanka ODI squad already left for Pallekele for training while Afghanistan team also will reach Pallekele today evening. The two newcomerss Dunith Wellalage and Dhananjaya Lakshan and experienced Dinesh Chandimal also left yesterday with the team.
Afghanistan ODI squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Riaz Hassan, Shahidullah Kamal, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia-ur-Rehman.