Afghanistan pick eight uncapped players for Zimbabwe Tests

The squad will be led by Asghar Afghan, who was reappointed as the captain after Rashid Khan.

Afghanistan last played a Test in November 2019, an one-off encounter against West Indies, which they lost by nine wickets.

The squad features a host of new faces with Abdul Malik, Munir Ahmad Kakar, Shahidullah Kamal, Bahir Shah Mohboob, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Saleem Safi and Zia Ur Rahman Akbar all without a Test cap to their names.

Sayed Ahmad Shirzad also has no Test experience but the medium pacer has featured in two ODIs and four T20Is since his debut in early 2019.

Afghanistan have announced a 19-man squad for the upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe.#AFGvZIM pic.twitter.com/o7w70Bwer4

— ICC (@ICC) February 18, 2021

Hashmatullah Shahidi, who was not a part of the side that tackled West Indies, finds his way back in the squad.

Two names missing from the Test side are Zahir Khan and Ihsanullah with the former being named as a reserve along with Abdul Wasi Noori.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Afghanistan's third-ranked T20I bowler, finds no place in the squad once again despite having played one Test.

The two-match Test series begins on 2 March in Abu Dhabi, the second match will start on 10 March. Zimbabwe have already named their squad for the series.

Afghanistan Test squad:
Asghar Afghan (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Javed Ahmadi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Nasir Jamal, Abdul Malik, Munir Ahmad Kakar, Shahidullah Kamal, Bahir Shah Mohboob, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Sayed Ahmad Shirzad, Saleem Safi, Wafadar Momand, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai