Afghanistan to Face Bangladesh in Three-Match ODI Series in Abu Dhabi

KABUL: Due to a groin injury, Afghan bowler Mohammad Saleem will not participate in the upcoming three-game ODI series against Bangladesh. The matches are slated to occur at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from October 8-11.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has indicated that the right-arm bowler suffered an adductor overload and will be under rehabilitation at their High Performance Centre located in Kabul.

Saleem, aged 23, has represented Afghanistan in two ODIs and one Test match. His most recent international appearance was against Sri Lanka in a Test match earlier this year in February.

The cricket board further communicated that Bilal Sami, a fellow pacer, will be replacing Saleem. Sami has only one international cap for Afghanistan, which was his debut ODI against Zimbabwe in December of the previous year.

Sami brings a notable amount of experience from List A cricket, participating in 25 matches and securing 44 wickets with an average of 25.72. He also played for Afghanistan in the ICC U19 Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, claiming four wickets across five matches.

The 21-year-old recently played for Speen Ghar Region in the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament. He emerged as the team’s second-highest wicket-taker, securing 10 wickets at an average of 22.90 and maintaining an economy rate of 4.97.

Afghanistan squad for ODI series against Bangladesh:

  • Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
  • Rahmat Shah (vc)
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
  • Ikram Alikhil (WK)
  • Ibrahim Zadran
  • Sediqullah Atal
  • Darwish Rasooli
  • Azmatullah Omarzai
  • Mohammad Nabi
  • Rashid Khan
  • Nangyal Kharoti
  • AM Ghazanfar
  • Abdullah Ahmadzai
  • Bashir Ahmad
  • Bilal Sami

Reserve: Faridoon Dawoodzai