The prolific opener returned from injury but spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed the game as he recovers from a hand sprain.

Afghanistan has recalled returning batsman Ibrahim Zadran to the ICC Champions Trophy squad amid growing calls for the team to boycott ties with the Taliban government amid a crackdown on women’s rights since it returned to power in 2021. their game.

Opener Zadran, who has recovered from ankle surgery, will be included in the 15-man squad named by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Sunday.

Right-arm spin bowler Mujeeb Ur Rehman was not included in the squad as the team management decided not to let him return to 50-ball cricket after spraining his hand last year.

Spinner AM Ghaznafar has been called up as an equal replacement for Mujeeb. Fast-rising opener Sediqullah Atal has also earned a place in the squad.

“Zadran, who missed the match due to an ankle injury, has returned to the team,” ACB said in a statement.

“However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed out on this option as AM Ghazanfar, a similarly enigmatic spinner, had managed to qualify for the mega event.”

ACB acting chief selector Ahmad Suliman Khil added that Rahman was left out because “his doctors have advised him to focus on T20s for the time being to ensure his full recovery”.

Afghanistan have produced impressive results in the ICC world tournament in recent years – finishing sixth in the 50-over World Cup in 2023 and reaching the semi-finals in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

This will be Afghanistan’s first participation in the Eight-Nations Champions Trophy, which will be played between February 19 and March 9 between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

The country hired former Pakistan captain Younis Khan to coach the team.

“Afghanistan have performed exceptionally well in the past two ICC events,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board president said in a statement.

ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said: “Their outstanding performance in these two matches, coupled with last year’s ODI series victory, will undoubtedly boost their morale and help them in this tournament achieve better results.”

Hashmathullah Shahidi’s side may face some off-field disruption in Pakistan, with Group B rivals England and South Africa urged to boycott their games.

Both the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa have ruled out boycotting Afghanistan in the multi-team tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Board stated that they would rather follow a unified and collective approach by all ICC members.

Afghanistan begins its campaign against South Africa on February 21 in Karachi.

Team: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gubaz (goalkeeper), Ikram Alikhil (goalkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Farid Ahmed Malik Zadran