Atal, Rahmat, Omarzai return to Afghanistan Test squad

Afghanistan have called up top-order batters Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah for the one-off Test against India. The 15-member squad led by Hashmatullah Shahidi also sees a call-up for star all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.

Atal and Omarzai have a solitary Test appearance to their name - against Zimbabwe in 2024 - while veteran Rahmat Shah has played 11 of the 12 Tests that Afghanistan have played so far, missing only their most recent one-off Test against Zimbabwe late last year.

As expected, star spinner Rashid Khan continues to miss out from the longest format with head coach Richard Pybus recently asking Rashid to prioritise long-term health over playing Test cricket following his recent injury concerns.

The one-off Test will be played in New Chandigarh between June 6 to 10.

The squad for the three-match ODI series, which begins in Dharamsala on June 14 wears a rather familiar look from the squad that swept the series against Bangladesh in October last year. Left-arm seamer Fareed Malik, who last played an ODI in 2024, is a notable new addition.

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