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Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has been left out of the 16-member squad for the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand, starting on September 9. He is a white-ball specialist, yet to play in a Test match. Last week, when the preliminary squad consisting of 20 players was announced, Gulbadin Naib was included in it. Just three days ahead of the one-off Test between Afghanistan vs New Zealand, the team management finalised a 16-member squad after their camp in Greater Noida.
While Gulbadin Naib was left out of the team, pacer Naveed Zadran also got ruled out of the 16-member squad owing to a side strain injury. Zadran has been advised to take a rest for 3-4 weeks as the team is hoping for him to get fit before the ODI series against South Africa, starting on September 18. The two other players who missed the cut were Yama Arab and Farid Ahmed Malik.
Afghanistan pick two wicket-keepers in Test squad to take on New Zealand
Talking about the rest of the members of the Afghan squad, they have opted two wicketkeepers in the team - Ikram Ali Khil and Afsar Zazai even though Rahmanullah Gurbaz donned the gloves in Afghanistan’s last Test against Ireland in February-March this year. New Zealand and Afghanistan will play against each other in the Test format for the first-time ever later this month.
Afghanistan squad for one-off Test vs New Zealand
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Shahidullah Kamal, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Shams Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masood, Khalil Ahmad
