Bahir Shah

Afghanistan will compete against New Zealand in a landmark one-off Test match in Greater Noida, India. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised young Afghan batters Riaz Hassan and Bahir Shah for their potential impact on Afghanistan's future in Test cricket. Both players have notable domestic records, raising expectations for their performance and contribution to the team's batting stability.

Due to a finger injury, Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan is likely to miss the first Test against Zimbabwe that will kick-start on Tuesday.

Star spinner Rashid Khan is likely to miss most of the games in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan's final 16-member squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand on September 9 in Greater Noida includes uncapped players Riaz Hassan, Shamsurrahman, and Khalil Ahmed. Rashid Khan is absent due to injury; Zahir Khan and Zia-ur-Rehman will lead the spin attack. The selection followed a 10-day preparation camp involving 19 players.

Bangladesh achieved a remarkable Test victory as they defeated Afghanistan by a staggering margin of 546 runs. This victory margin by runs is the largest in nearly 90 years, highlighting Bangladesh's dominance in the match. Taskin Ahmed played a significant role in securing this triumph with his exceptional bowling performance, claiming career-best figures of 4-37.

New Zealand will play against Afghanistan in a one-off Test starting Monday in Greater Noida. This match is crucial for New Zealand's preparation for the World Test Championship challenges ahead. Afghanistan, although inexperienced in red-ball cricket and missing key players like Rashid Khan, hopes to leverage their familiarity with the venue.

New Zealand faces Afghanistan in their inaugural Test match, marking the start of six consecutive Tests in the subcontinent. With a focus on spin and adapting to conditions, New Zealand aims for a strong start despite rain forecasts. Afghanistan hopes to leverage familiarity with the Greater Noida venue amid key player absences.

India pacer Harshit Rana made a unique record by making his T20I debut mid-match as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube during the 4th against England in Pune. Rana's debut included taking a couple of wickets, making him the first player in a full member team to debut in this manner during a T20I.

The 18-year-old Shah amassed 1,096 runs from seven matches and 12 innings with whopping average of 121.77, bettering Australian legend Sir Don Bradman's average of 95.14 in First Class cricket, the highest for cricketers with more than 1,000 runs.

The 25-year-old Rashid Khan holds the distinction of being Afghanistan's leading Test wicket-taker, having secured 34 wickets in five matches. His pivotal role in all formats of the game makes his absence a notable setback for the team. The selectors emphasised that Rashid's rehabilitation is being approached with caution, underlining the importance of monitoring his recovery process.

Zimbabwe achieved a monumental innings victory over Afghanistan, their first home Test win since 2013. Richard Ngarava starred with a maiden five-wicket haul, while Ben Curran's composed century earned him the Player of the Match award. Afghanistan's batting faltered, with captain Shahidi citing inexperience as a factor in their collapse.

Sri Lanka is aiming for a turnaround in their Test cricket fortunes as they prepare for a one-off match against Afghanistan in Colombo. Dhananjaya de Silva, the newly appointed captain, leads the team as they aim to improve their standing in the World Test Championship rankings. Sri Lanka, currently at the bottom of the rankings, faced a setback in their last Test at the same venue in October.

A 23-ball 66 from Azmatullah Omarzai was backed up by some precise bowling by spinners Mujeeb Zadran and Qais Ahmad as Afghanistan recorded a thumping 202-run victory over New Zealand to reach the semi-final of the ICC U-19 World Cup on Thursday.