The 19-member Afghanistan Test squad for the two-match series against Zimbabwe contains eight uncapped players, with some notable names missing out. Among those omitted is Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the 19-year-old spinner, further reducing experience in an Afghanistan bowling attack that will miss Mohammad Nabi, who retired from Test cricket in 2019.

The side, however, has Rashid Khan in their ranks, who will miss a good part of the 2020/21 PSL, his maiden season, to be part of the Afghanistan outfit.

Zahir Khan and Ihsanullah are also not part of the Test team. However, Zahir is part of the reserves list. The eight uncapped players in the squad are: Bahir Shah Mohboob, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Sayed Ahmed Shirzad, Abdul Malik, Munir Ahmad Kakar, Shahidullah Kamal, Saleem Safi and Zia Ur Rahman Akbar.

The series will see the return of Asghar Afghan as their Test captain, who replaced Rashid Khan in 2019.

The teams will play two Tests and three T20Is in Abu Dhabi, starting with the first red-ball game on March 2. Before the first Test, the two squads will feature in a tour game at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The series is not part of the World Test Championship, since Afghanistan and Zimbabwe aren’t part of the top nine Test teams.

Full Afghanistan Test squad for Zimbabwe series

Asghar Afghan (captain), Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Saleem Safi, Wafadar Momand, Shahidullah Kamal, Bahir Shah Mohboob, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai Javed Ahmadi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Nasir Jamal, Abdul Malik, Munir Ahmad Kakar, Amir Hamza, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Sayed Ahmad Shirzad

The Afghanistan T20I squad for the series will be updated here once it is announced.