• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi To Lead Revamped Afghanistan Squad In Odi Super League Games Against Pakistan

Hashmatullah Shahidi to lead revamped Afghanistan squad in ODI Super League games against Pakistan

Not one or the but five uncapped players are named in the Afghanistan ODI squad for their Cricket World Cup Super League matches against Pakistan in September this year. The three-match ODI series will take place in September this year when the Pakistan team returns from its West Indies tour. 

Hashmatullah Shahidi, who struck a double century against Zimbabwe in the two-match Tets series in UAE will lead the team. Earlier this month he was named the ODI and Test skipper of the team with Rashid Khan handling the T20Is captaincy.

The uncapped players in the 17 members Afghan squad include Sediq Atal, Shahidullah Kamal, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Abdul Rahman Apart from these, there are three players making a comeback into the squad. It includes batters Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat and bowler Ikram Alikhal. 

Experienced players like Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib and Javed Ahmadi along with youngsters such as Usman Ghani, Yamin Ahmadzai and Sayed Shirzad have been left out of the squad.

Afghanistan squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediq Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najib Zadran, Ikram Alikhal, Shahid Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmat Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Abdul Rahman, Naveen Ul Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Noor Ahmad

Discover more

Top Stories
news

London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred: Know where to watch, weather forecast and Fantasy XI

After two thrilling encounters in the first two games of the newest format of the game The Hundred, the third day of the competition will witness its first doubleheader when the Men’s and Women’s teams of London Spirit and Birmingham Phenix will be taking on each other. There are a lot of stars lined up for both these games to entertain the people in the stadium and on the screens as well. Already in the past two days, The Hundred has broken all previous viewership records in the UK on BBC and in terms of live streaming. With Friday being a gateway to the weekend, the numbers are only going to increase. Match Details: The Hundred Men Birmingham Phoenix vs London Spirit Date and Time: July 23, 2021, 11:00 pm IST Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham Live Stream in India: Fancode App Pitch Report The wicket at Edgbaston is going to have a run-fest and with only 100 balls per innings, nothing less than a run-fest is expected either. However, spinners could turn out to be a surprise with their variations Weather Report Sunny with intervals of gentle breeze is the prediction of the weather at Edgbaston and hence a great game is expected without any interruptions. Players to watch out for Birmingham Phoenix The Phoenix has got a phenomenal squad with prime T20 players [playing for them. There are a lot of them and picking the top three is going to be very difficult from among the likes of Finn Allen, Chris Woakes, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali and Imran Tahir. Liam Livingstone Been in a red hot form, Livingstone has recently broken the record for fastest English T20I century which he hit against Pakistan off just 42 balls. He has been in phenomenal form overall even for his domestic side Lancashire helping them reach the Quarterfinals in the T20 Blast. Moeen Ali The skipper of the side and back batting in the top order and representing Birmingham, known as the mini subcontinent, Moeen Ali has everything going for him in this competition. A prolific hitter of the white cricket ball, the 33-year-old would be a dangerous prospect in the tournament. Imran Tahir Tahir not only brings his energy to the team even at the age of 40 but also has a lot up his sleeves in terms of skills, be it his wrong-un, leg spinner or the celebration style. Birmingham Phoenix Squad Finn Allen, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Miles Hammond, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Dominic Sibley, Tom Abell, Chris Woakes, Adam Milne, Imran Tahir, Adam Hose, Patrick Brown, Dillon Pennington, Will Smeed, Tom Helm, Chris Cooke, Benny Howell Probable XI Dom Sibley, Finn Allen, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali (c), Tom Abell, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Chris Cooke (wk), Chris Woakes, Adam Milne, Tom Helm Imran Tahir London Spirit The Spirit has no dearth of stars either as they have none other than Shane Warne, one of the most popular men in the game, coaching them. But part from him and among players, they have the likes of English skipper Eoin Morgan, T20 specialist Ravi Bopara, pace ace Mark Wood, Afghan expat Mohammad Nabi, Pakistan speedster Mohammad Nabi and homegrown talents like Dan Lawrence and Jade Dernbach. Picking three from them is a difficult prospect altogether. But still, the three things that make the difference are Eoin Morgan Coming off a match-winning knock against Pakistan, Morgan has not been in a great form otherwise, even in the T20 Blast with his side Middlesex. But the pedigree he carries, the legacy he has built-in white-ball cricket is just unquestionable and thus he becomes the number one game-changer. Mohammad Nabi His ability to bring a change in the game with his big-hitting abilities with the willow and wicket-taking abilities with the off-spin makes him an amazing pick for the team from the capital. He has the experience of playing throughout the world and thus could utilise it in the shortest form. Mohammad Amir Not part of his national side, Amir who can bowl exceptionally well at the start of the innings as well as at the death could be the best pick for the Spirit to bowl the 10 balls over as well. He too has the experience of playing in various leagues to back him up. London Spirit Squad Josh Inglis, Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Mohammad Nabi, Daniel Lawrence, Luis Reece, Mark Wood, Mohammad Amir, Blake Cullen, Roelof van der Merwe, Jade Dernbach, Chris Wood, Adam Rossington, Mason Crane Probable XI Josh Inglis (wk), Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan (c), Ravi Bopara, Mohammad Nabi, Daniel Lawrence, Roelof van der Merwe, Mark Wood, Mohammad Amir, Jade Dernbach Fantasy XI Josh Inglis, Finn Allen, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Amir, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Imran Tahir Captain: Liam Livingstone Vice Captain: Mohammad Nabi

news

Having worked on "mental" fitness, Soumya Sarkar decides to compete with none but himself

Bangladesh batsman and also an accurate slow medium pacer, Somya Sarkar does not see himself in competition with anyone esle as he said that the process of comparing himself with others put him under a lot of pressure. He outlined the role of working on “certain areas” of his game and becoming “mentally fit” to turn things around in the T20 series against Zimbabawe. "When I was out of the team, I practiced with purpose, particularly during the DPL T20s. I will continue to focus on certain areas of my game. I have to be more mentally fit to be more consistent. My biggest competition is with myself. If I think of competing with others, it puts pressure on me. I want to do well myself, and get back my place in the team," Sarkar said. Sarkar was awarded Man of the Match award in the first T20 against Zimbabwe for a 45-ball 50 and one-wicket spell, but he had to go through an indiffrent start. He conceded his nervousness returning to international cricket after a period of four months, but said that the first six helped him unshackle the rustiness. "I was playing my first international match after four months so I felt a bit shaky at the start. When some of my first shots were going to hand, I told myself to take a bit of time. A four or a six would open things up for me, I thought. When I got a preferred ball and struck the six, I got my confidence back,” Sarkar said. Sarkar said that he was unaware of his batting position until the innings break when the coach told him of the opening opportunity with Mohammad Naim. He also commended his opening partner for taking the initiiave and providing impetus to the Bangladesh’ batting in the chase of 153 runs. "I was supposed to bat at No 3, but the coach told me at the innings break that I would be opening in Liton's place. I had to prepare myself mentally, and speak to the new partner and bat according to the conditions. When we were going slow at the start, I told Naim that one big over will bring the flow in our favour. When he struck those three fours in the fourth over, things changed quickly," he said. The second T20 of the series between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh is underway at the Harare Sports Club and the hosts are in advantageous position to square the series with one more match to go.