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MI Star Allah Ghazanfar Replaces Rashid Khan As Afghanistan Update Boxing Day Test Squad

Sakshi Sharma∙ Updated: Dec 25 2024, 1:42 PM

AM Ghazanfar replaced as Rashid Khan's replacement (Source:@acb_190,x.com)AM Ghazanfar replaced as Rashid Khan's replacement (Source:@acb_190,x.com)

Afghanistan's star all-rounder, Rashid Khan, will unfortunately miss the highly-anticipated first Test against Zimbabwe, scheduled to begin on Thursday, (December 26), at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. 

The 26-year-old, will be absent due to personal reasons, as he is required to attend a charity event. The absence of Rashid Khan is a significant blow for Afghanistan, especially given his immense impact in all formats of the game. 

AM Ghazanfar Will Replace Rashid Khan

In his stead, Afghanistan named teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar as his replacement for the first test. Ghazanfar has been in sensational form recently and was important in Afghanistan’s dominant 2-0 ODI series victory against Zimbabwe. He picked up impressive figures of 5/33 in the third ODI, which helped Afghanistan secure an eight-wicket win.

The 18-year-old leg-spinner's rise has been meteoric, and his inclusion in the Test squad is will be seen as a major opportunity for the youngster to showcase his talent. 

This marks a historic series for Zimbabwe, as they prepare to host their first-ever Boxing Day Test in 28 years. Despite the absence of Rashid Khan, Afghanistan will still pose a formidable challenge, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi. 

On the other hand, Zimbabwe, under the captaincy of Craig Ervine, will be looking to make their mark, with key players like Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams joined by promising debutants such as Ben Curran and Tadiwanashe Marumani.

Afghanistan's Updated squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhail, Afsar Zazai, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, and Fareed Ahmad Malik.