Middle-order batter Rahmat Shah has been appointed captain of Afghanistan's Test and one-day international squads, the country's cricket board announced on Wednesday. The change in leadership comes after Hashmatullah Shahidi stepped down on Tuesday, ending his tenure during which Afghanistan finished sixth at the 2023 World Cup defeating England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Alongside Rahmat, Rahmanullah Gurbaz will serve as vice-captain in both formats. Rahmat Shah's first challenge as Afghanistan captain will come
in the upcoming ODI series against Ireland, beginning on August 5.
Rahmat has served consistently as Afghanistan's vice-captain in both the Test and ODI formats since 2021. In the ODIs, the right-handed batter played 128 matches and 123 innings, amassing 4,121 runs at a strike rate of 71.38 and an average of 35.22. The 33-year-old becomes the first-choice leader across Tests and ODIs as Afghanistan prepare for crucial upcoming assignments on the global stage.
How does Rahmat Shah's captaincy debut compare to Shahidi's legacy?
Hashmatullah Shahidi was appointed captain in May 2021 and began his tenure with a series victory over the Netherlands in January 2022. During his successful tenure as captain, Afghanistan achieved several significant victories and milestones while making notable progress in the international rankings. He led the team to 27 wins in 55 ODIs, including series victories over South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.
What is the squad composition for the Ireland series?
Afghanistan is scheduled to tour Ireland in August 2026 to play five One-day International matches. The five ODIs are scheduled for August 5 and 7 at Bready, followed by matches on August 10, 12, and 14 in Belfast. The squad includes experienced names such as Rashid Khan, spinner and white-ball bowling leader, all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, and openers Ibrahim Zadran and Gurbaz.
Pace spearhead Fazalhaq Farooqi anchors the bowling attack, alongside leg-spinner AM Ghazanfar and left-armer Yamin Ahmadzai. The 15-player squad features added depth with young prospect Nangyal Kharotai, fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, and seamer Saleem Safi.
Shah's captaincy debut presents an opportunity to build on Afghanistan's prior success. In their previous bilateral against Ireland in February-March 2024, Afghanistan won the three-match ODI series 2-0. The five-match series represents an important stepping stone as the Afghan side prepares for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier scheduled for early 2027.
Afghanistan squad for ODI series vs Ireland:
Rahmat Shah (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (VC), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Nangyal Kharotai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Saleem Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
Reserve players: Qais Ahmad, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami, Bashir Ahmad
