Mystery spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman failed to find a place in Afghanistan’s Test squad for next month’s clash against Ireland.
Afghanistan are due to host Ireland across all three formats at their adopted ‘home’ ground in Dehradun, India and will play only their second Test since gaining full ICC membership last year.
Mujeeb was the biggest omission from the 14-man squad announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Thursday while wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad was left out of the T20 side.
While missing out on the Test squad, Mujeeb has been picked for the ODI and T20 matches. Shahzad, meanwhile, has been included in both the Test and ODI squads for the Ireland clashes.
Having captained the side in their maiden Test against India last year, Asghar Afghan continues the lead Afghanistan in all three formats.
Our squad for the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan Test match against @Irelandcricket in Dehradun, India.#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/cmKGm0j0Zf
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 7, 2019
Three players – Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ikram Ali and Waqar Salamkheil – have been handed their maiden Test call ups. All-rounder Ashraf has already played 14 ODIs and six T20s for Afghanistan previously and has picked up 12 and five wickets respectively in the two formats.
Ikram had a first-class experience of six matches in which he has managed to register one ton and a half-century. Waqar, meanwhile, has played seven first-class matches so far in his career and has struck four half-centuries.
It will be leg-spin sensation Rashid Khan who will be key in the sole Test against Ireland with Mujeeb missing out. The 20-year-old is currently the No1 ranked T20 bowler in the world while he is ranked second in the ODI format.
Afghanistan and Ireland are due to play three ODIs and five T20s before the start of the sole Test which gets underway on March 15. All of the nine clashes between the two sides will take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Dehradun starting with the first T20 on February 21.
