The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Selection committee announced a 23-member squad who left to South Africa today to participate in a training camp as part of their preparation for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Addressing a press conference at ACB Headquarters in Kabul, Chief selector, Dawalt Ahmadzai said that the committee has selected 23 best players who travel to South Africa to participate in a training camp after which they will undergo fitness tests that will be essential besides their performance in the selection of the final 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, reports cricket.af.

The squad is as follows:

Mohammad Shahzad, Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Najib Zadran, Gulbadin Naib(C), Rashid Khan (VC), Darwish Rasooli, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Shafiqullah Shafaq, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Shapoor Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Sayed Shirzad & Samiullah Shinwari.

ACB selection Committee also announced major changes in team Afghanistan’s leadership across formats. Senior All-rounder Gulbadin Naib replaced Asghar Afghan as ODI Captain while Rashid Khan is appointed Vice Captain. Rashid will also lead the T20I side while Shafiqullah Shafaq is appointed as Vice Captain. Middle order batsmen Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah will lead the Test team as Captain and Vice Captain respectively.

Referring to the changes in team Afghansitan’s leadership, Ahmadzai remarked that the changes are for the better future of the team and that he is confident newly appointed skipper Gulbadin Naib will bring more laurels to the team. He said, ‘Asghar Afghan who captained team Afghanistan for a period of around four years achieved a lot and made the country proud, and I hope Gulbadin Naib will be able to continue his legacy at the helm of the team’s affairs.’

Ahmadzai added, ‘Gulbadin Naib is a senior player who has also led the Mis-e-Ainak regional team on many occasions and we hope that he will play a vital role in the team’s future success.’

Ahmadzai said that the squad will play six practice matches as part of the training camp held in South Africa after which they will return to Kabul where the selection committee will announce the final 15-member line-up for the upcoming World Cup.

Newly appointed Captain, Gulbadin Naib thanked the selection committee for expressing confidence in him. He said, ‘It is a major responsibility to lead the national team. I assure everyone that I would give my best to continue the team’s success. I am confident that with the talented team that we have, we will continue to achieve more feats.’