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The matches serve as preparation for the Asia Cup, scheduled later in the month, as well as the ODI World Cup in October.
Among the notable players in the squad is the ace spinner Rashid Khan, who is widely regarded as the top spinner in white-ball cricket.
However, there have been concerns about his fitness, as he recently withdrew from The Hundred tournament in the UK due to an unspecified injury. Nonetheless, the 24-year-old spinner remains a crucial part of Afghanistan’s lineup.
Another exciting addition to Afghanistan’s spin attack is the teenage left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad, who is set to make his return to the squad. With a strong spin bowling combination, Afghanistan aim to pose a tough challenge to Pakistan in the upcoming series.
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief selector Asadullah Khan said the team is gearing up for the upcoming big events.
“This three-match ODI series against Pakistan provides us with a wonderful opportunity to prepare the team for the forthcoming two events,” Khan said in a statement released by the ACB.
The first two ODIs will be played in Hambantota on August 22 and 24, with the third in Colombo on August 26.
The Asia Cup starts on August 30 with four matches in Pakistan and the remaining nine in Sri Lanka, while the World Cup runs from October 5 to November 19 in India.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have so far contested four ODIs, including two encounters at the Asia Cup and one at the 2019 World Cup.
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Wafadar Momand
(With AFP inputs)
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