Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan has been relieved of his duties with the country’s board appointing new captains for all three formats on Friday.
Asghar Afghan had been leading the national team across all three formats previously but the Afghan board have now decided to go the route of split-captaincy for the three formats. Asghar Afghan has been removed from the leadership role with Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan and Rahmat Shah announced as the new skippers for the three formats.
The decision to do so was taken on Friday following a meeting of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Selection Committee.
It will be 28-year-old all-rounder Gulbadin Naib who will lead the team in the ODI format and thus the upcoming 2019 ICC World Cup in England. Leg-spin sensation Rashid Khan will serve as Naib’s deputy in the 50-over format while the 20-year-old will take over as skipper in the T20I format.
ACB Selection Committee announced changes in team Afghanistan's leadership across formats as follows.
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) April 5, 2019
ODIs:
- @GbNaib Captain
- @rashidkhan_19 V. Captain
T20Is:
- @rashidkhan_19 Captain
- @shafaqshinwarai V. Captain
Tests:
- @RahmatShah_08 Captain
- @Hashmat_50 V.Captain pic.twitter.com/zRRvwgtKFF
Rashid is the No1 ranked T20 bowler in the world and it is the first time that the wrist-spinner has been appointed to a leadership role in the Afghanistan setup. Meanwhile, Shafiqullah Shafaq has taken over as the new vice-captain in the T20I format.
25-year-old all-rounder Rahmat Shah has been announced as the new Test skipper of the side with Hashmatullah Shahidi announced as his deputy.
Afghanistan have played two Tests so far since they were given the Full ICC membership with Shah playing a part in both the matches. The right-handed batsman has scored 198 runs in those two Tests at an average of 48.
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