Rashid Khan Steps Down, Ibrahim Zadran Takes Over as Afghanistan T20I Captain

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has appointed Ibrahim Zadran as the new captain of the T20I team. He will replace Rashid Khan in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka that will be played in the UAE from March 13.

Considering the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the ACB said that it is closely monitoring the situation and is in discussion with all the stakeholders to manage the series wisely.

"The ACB is closely monitoring the ongoing situation in the region and is engaging in discussions with all stakeholders about whether the series can proceed as originally planned, both in terms of dates and venue," said the ACB statement.

"Although a final decision will be made in a couple of days, the ACB's initial approach, in coordination with the ECB [Emirates Cricket Board] and venue authorities, is to proceed with the originally scheduled dates. Should circumstances necessitate a change, the ACB will consider exploring alternative options for both the host country and the event schedule," added the ACB statement.

The board then congratulated Rashid Khan for a spectacular captaincy stint, saying he brought immense success to the team by giving his all on the field.

"Rashid Khan's tenure as the T20I captain brought immense success to the team, particularly highlighted by the team's remarkable journey in the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup, where we reached the semi-finals,” said the ACB statement.

“In alignment with the ACB's long-term strategic vision and following recent changes in our team management, including the appointment of a new head coach, we have made the thoughtful decision to transition the leadership within the T20I set-up," added the ACB statement.

Afghanistan’s T20I Squad

Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Rahman, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai

Afghanistan’s ODI Squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Bilal Sami