Mujeeb Zadran drafted in for World Cup qualifiers

Afghanistan have included Mujeeb Zadran, the 16-year-old off-spinner, in their 15-member squad for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2018, to be played in Zimbabwe in March this year.

Mujeeb made a superb ODI debut against Ireland in December last year, returning figures of 4/24 in his ten overs. He had an impressive ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 as well, picking up six wickets in five games, which included a match-winning 4/14 against New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

With Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi already in the side, Mujeeb’s presence will give an additional boost to Afghanistan’s chances as they vie for the final two spots available for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, to be held in the United Kingdom.

Mohammad Shahzad, the charismatic wicket-keeper batsman who made a return to national colours in the ongoing limited-overs series against Zimbabwe after serving an ICC suspension for taking a prohibited substance, has also been named in the squad.

Asghar Stanikzai will lead the side, which is no different from the squad announced to take on Zimbabwe in the five-match ODI series slated to begin on February 9 in Sharjah.

Shahzad, Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari and Nabi will form the sore of the batting unit for Afghanistan, while Dawlat Zadran and Shapoor Zadran will spearhead the pace attack.

Amir Hamza, the slow left-arm spinner, and Hamid Hassan, the veteran medium pacer, are the notable omissions from the list.

Afghanistan are in Group B of the qualifiers along with Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, Scotland, Hong Kong, and the runners-up from the World Cricket Championship Division Two, which will be held later this month. Their first fixture will be against Scotland on March 4 in Bulawayo.

Squad: Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Javed Ahmadi, Ihsanullah Janat, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Nasir Jamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran.