Rashid Khan Excluded as Afghanistan Reveals Squad for Zimbabwe Tour

The Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe 2025 is set to begin on October 20, 2025, for an exciting and competitive series. The tour will begin with a one-off Test match at the Harare Sports Club, one of the most beautiful cricket stadiums in the world. Zimbabwe last hosted Tests primarily at Bulawayo, but now Harare is back in the spotlight. Interestingly, both teams have played Test matches against each other four times, with each team winning two games.

Following the Test match, the two sides will face off in a three-match T20 International series running from October 29 to November 2. This tour is important for both Afghanistan and Zimbabwe as they continue to develop their teams, keeping the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in mind. For Afghanistan, it is an opportunity to test their skills away from home against a competitive Zimbabwean side. For Zimbabwe, hosting Afghanistan offers them a chance to regain momentum on home soil and provide their fans with some thrilling cricket.

Afghanistan Squad for Zimbabwe 2025: Star Player to Miss One-Off Test

After a strong 3-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh in the ODI series, the Afghanistan national cricket team is now gearing up to make its mark in Test cricket. The squad for their upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe, starting on October 20, has been announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee.

Rashid Khan's exclusion from Afghanistan Squad for Zimbabwe 2025 in Tests will be something to manage for the Afghan side as he is one of the best spinners in the world. This decision to rest him has been made keeping in mind his upcoming packed schedule. Left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad has been retained in the Test squad. Bashir recently featured in ODI and T20I matches and was also part of the Test team on the previous Zimbabwe tour. Fast bowler Zia ur Rehman Sharifi, spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, and leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz have also been included in the Test squad.

Afghanistan Test Squad for Zimbabwe 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Jazai (Wicketkeeper), Ikram Alikhil (Wicketkeeper), Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia ur Rehman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia ur Rehman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, and Bashir Ahmad.

Reserves: Ibrahim Abdullrahimzai, Sedikullah Atal, and Shams ur Rehman.

Rashid Khan Returns for T20Is

Afghanistan have announced an exciting T20 squad for their upcoming three-match series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to be played from October 29 to November 2, 2025, at the Harare Sports Club. Rashid Khan will be leading the side, who returns to the squad after being rested for the Test match earlier in the tour. His presence will boost the team’s bowling attack and also provide experience in a format where Afghanistan continues to grow as a serious contender.

The squad features a strong core of experienced players such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who will take up the wicketkeeping duties, alongside seasoned all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai. Ijaz Ahmadzai has made a return to the team. He had made his T20I debut earlier in 2024. Shahidullah Kamal has also been included in the T20I squad for this series.

Afghanistan T20 Squad for Zimbabwe 2025

Rashid Khan (Captain), Ibrahim Zadran (Vice-Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, and Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar and Fareedoon Dawoodzai.