Afghanistan declares squad for Sri Lanka T20I collection

Afghanistan Monday introduced a 16-man squad for the three-match Twenty20 worldwide collection in opposition to Sri Lanka, aiming to organize strongly for this 12 months’s World Cup.

Ibrahim Zadran will proceed to steer the squad as common Twenty20 skipper Rashid Khan remains to be recovering from a again surgical procedure.

The three matches will likely be performed — all in Dambulla — on February 17, 19 and 21 February following the conclusion of one-day worldwide collection on Wednesday.

Missing Rashid badly, Afghanistan misplaced the one-off Test and path the three-match ODI collection 2-0 in opposition to host Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan’s chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil mentioned the T20 World Cup is the goal.

“We have a close eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup for which we want to prepare a very good mix of players consisting of both juniors and seniors,” Sulimankhil is quoted in a Afghanistan Cricket Board launch.

Also learn | IND vs ENG: KL Rahul dominated out of Rajkot Test vs England; Padikkal named substitute

“This series alongside the three T20Is against Ireland in March is a good opportunity for us to test our bench strength and finalise a good squad for the mega event.”

The T20 World Cup will likely be held within the United States and the West Indies in June this 12 months.

Another key spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman additionally misses out on the squad after sustaining a sprain in his proper hand earlier than the beginning of the ODI collection in opposition to Sri Lanka.

Fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi, who was a part of the Afghanistan squad for the India tour final month, has been disregarded as a consequence of a hamstring pressure and is changed by Wafadar Momand.