Rahmat Shah to Captain Afghanistan in ODI Series Against Ireland

July 24: Afghanistan have named Rahmat Shah as captain for the first time in One-Day Internationals for their upcoming five-match ODI series against Ireland, which begins on August 5 in Bready.

The experienced batter takes over after Hashmatullah Shahidi stepped down as ODI captain following Afghanistan's 3-0 series defeat to India in June. Shahidi remains in the squad as a specialist batter.

Fast-bowling attack strengthened

Afghanistan have recalled Fazalhaq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai to bolster their pace attack.

• Farooqi returns after last featuring in an ODI in February 2025 and has recently been in action in the Lanka Premier League, where he has claimed five wickets in two matches for Dambulla Sixers.
• Ahmadzai makes his ODI comeback after nearly four years, having last played in November 2022.

Spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman misses the series due to injury.

Nabi unavailable

Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has not been included as he is representing Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Global Super League, which concludes on August 2.

Meanwhile, Fareed Malik and Bilal Sami, who were part of the squad that toured India, have been moved to the reserve list.

Rahmat's first assignment as captain

Although this will be Rahmat Shah's first ODI series as captain, he has served as Afghanistan's vice-captain in both Tests and ODIs since 2021.

The 33-year-old is Afghanistan's highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, with:

• 4,121 runs
• Average: 35.22

His leadership marks the beginning of a new chapter for Afghanistan's 50-over side as they build towards future ICC events.

ODI series schedule

The five-match series will be played across two venues in Northern Ireland:

• 1st ODI: August 5 – Bready
• 2nd ODI: August 7 – Bready
• 3rd ODI: August 10 – Belfast
• 4th ODI: August 12 – Belfast
• 5th ODI: August 15 – Belfast

Afghanistan ODI squad

Rahmat Shah (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vice-captain & wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper), Nangyal Kharotai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Saleem Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

Reserves: Qais Ahmad, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami, Bashir Ahmad.

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