The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Selection Committee has revealed the 18-member Afghanistan National Squad for the upcoming three-match T20I Series against the UAE. The series kicks off tomorrow at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

Rashid Khan, the regular T20I Captain, will be absent from the main squad as he continues his recovery from recent back surgery. In his place, top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran has been named the standby captain and will lead the AfghanAtalan lineup during the series.

Additionally, fast bowlers Fazal Haq Farooqi and Naveen Ul Haq, who recently faced sanctions for expressing their intention to opt out of annual central contracts, have been included in the squad. Both players have shown a strong desire to represent their country and have requested a reconsideration of the disciplinary measures imposed against them. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has praised their commitment and directed a relevant committee to conduct a thorough investigation, communicating findings and proposed solutions after assessing the players' requests.

The Afghanistan squad for the three-match T20I series against UAE includes Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, and more. Rashid Khan, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Ikram Alikhil, and Gulbadin Naib have been named as reserves. The series is set to take place from December 29, 2023, to January 02, 2024, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.