Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan: Four IPL players make 15-man Afghan squad for SL Series

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The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a strong squad for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka.

The Afghanistan side has already qualified for the ODI World Cup. And as a build-up, they will be taking on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, which starts on June 2.

And on Monday (May 15), they announced a 15-member squad for their tour to Sri Lanka. Afghanistan will be led by Hasmatullah Shahidi as Mohammed Nabi was released from his captaincy duties. They have also named four players as standby for the tour.

Four IPL players make Afghanistan Squad

Four current Afghan players who are playing in the ongoing IPL 2023 have made it to the squad for their Sri Lanka tour.

Gujarat Titans duo Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, Kolkata Knight Riders wicketkeeper Rahmatullah Gurbaz, and Sunrisers Hyderabad bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi - all have made the squad for the ODI series.

But Lucknow Super Giants bowler Naveen-ul-Haq hasn't made the squad.

Rahmat Shah will deputise Shahidi in the series. Gulbadin Naib, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar and Shahidullah Kamal are the player included in the reserves list. Former Punjab Kings spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has also made the 15-man squad.

"It's good to have a couple of young faces for the series; the build-up for the ICC Cricket World Cup has already begun, and we are looking for every possible opportunity to build a good combination of the team and prepare them well for the event," ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf was quoted saying by ICC.

Afghanistan squad for Sri Lanka ODIs

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhail (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Abdul Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Farid Ahmad Malik.