Afghanistan Cricket has unveiled their 16-member squad for the highly anticipated Test match against New Zealand, set to begin this Monday in Greater Noida, India. The selection of the squad came after a thorough analysis of player performances during an extensive preparation camp.

The team will be captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi, stepping in for regular skipper Rashid Khan. Shahidi, who has played eight Tests, has led the Afghan side in three of those appearances.

This one-off match will mark a significant milestone for Afghanistan Cricket as they face New Zealand in a Test for the first time in history. Moreover, it will be Afghanistan's 10th Test since being granted full member status by the ICC. This fixture is also Afghanistan's first appearance in the Test format since their stellar performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals. They also beat New Zealand in that tournament. 

Talking about the champion spinner and previous captain Rashid Khan Afghanistan will sorely miss the services of him, one of their most accomplished cricketers. Khan, who is usually a key figure in both Afghanistan’s bowling and leadership, has been advised by doctors to avoid long-format cricket for a year following back surgery. This leaves the spin responsibilities to other capable hands.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will be supported by a mix of experienced players and young talents. Top-order batsmen like Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and Riaz Hassan will look to anchor Afghanistan’s innings. Gulbadin Naib, who was part of the 20-man preliminary squad, did not make the final cut, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Karim Janat were also omitted as they weren’t in the original preliminary list.In terms of bowling, the spin attack will be led by Qais Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rehman, and Zahir Khan, along with Khalil Ahmad.

Afghanistan squad for one-off Test vs New Zealand

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhil, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shams Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Zahir Khan Pakteen, Qais Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, and Nijat Masood.