Bahir Shah, who was on the team in Sri Lanka, returns to the side, while
both players have no Test caps.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a wicketkeeper and batsman, has been included in
Afghanistan's team for the one-off Test against Ireland, which is scheduled to
start in Abu Dhabi on February 28. This might mean that Gurbaz makes his Test
debut. Uncapped legspinner Khalil Gurbaz, who has only been in eleven
first-class games, has also made the 16-man Test team.
In the ten games, Khalil has claimed 40 wickets at an economy rate of 3.72 and
an average of 28.52. Quick bowler Muhammad Ibrahim was called up after being
included in the team for the June tour of Bangladesh the previous year.
Ibrahim, 25, has never received a Test cricket cap.
This time around, injuries prevented Yamin Ahmadzai and Mohammad Salim from
playing in Afghanistan's most recent squad for the one-off Test against Sri
Lanka. But Bahir Shah, who has played 40 first-class matches with an average of
60.90 (including one Test match), managed to get into the team.
The temporary chief selector for the ACB, Ahmad Shah
Sulimankhil, released a statement saying, "The team underwent a 10-day
conditioning camp in Abu Dhabi, which featured 22 players and all the support
staff to work with the players, and ensured full preparation for the
series." "We have thoroughly monitored the proceedings and have
picked the squad which includes several new faces who have excelled well during
the recent domestic events."
Qais Ahmad, a wrist spinner who played in the Colombo Test, and Muhammad Ishaq,
the backup wicketkeeper in the one-off Test against Sri Lanka, were not
included. In Sri Lanka's opening innings, Qais had conceded 98 runs in 22 overs
for two wickets at an economy rate of nearly 4.50.
Afghanistan's first-ever Test victory came against Ireland
in March 2019, and this will be their second meeting. Afghanistan is expected
to play five more Test matches this year in addition to this one-off match.
"Our playing history with Ireland is really fantastic. Both nations have
received full membership in the ICC and have played a great deal of cricket
against one another, according to ACB CEO Naseeb Khan. "We are excited for
what should be an interesting Test match between the two teams. This will be
our second Test against them.
"We will also be playing Tests against Bangladesh, New
Zealand [for the first time] and Zimbabwe later in the year, so we are looking
forward to building a formidable line-up for the Test matches ahead."
Afghanistan unit
Zahir Khan, Zia-Ur-Rehman, Nijat Masood, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai,
Naveed Zadran, Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Abdul Malik, Bahir Shah, Nasir
Jamal, Karim Janat, Khalil Gurbaz, Zahir Khan, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhail,
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, etc.
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