Thu Dec 26 09:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Ghazanfar Gets Surprise Call-Up to Afghanistan Test Squad
**Bulawayo, Zimbabwe** – AM Ghazanfar has received a surprise call-up to the Afghanistan national cricket team for their upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, starting Thursday in Bulawayo. The uncapped spinner’s inclusion comes after star spinner Rashid Khan withdrew due to personal reasons.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced Ghazanfar’s selection via a social media post. His selection is particularly noteworthy as he has yet to play a first-class match. However, his impressive performance in the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe, where he took 5/33 in the third match, clearly impressed selectors.
Ghazanfar’s rise has been meteoric. He played in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, made his senior ODI debut against Ireland in March, and helped Afghanistan A win the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, earning Player of the Match in the final. Adding to his achievements, he was recently bought by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 auction for a significant sum.
This series marks a historic moment for Zimbabwean cricket. The first Test, to be played at Queens Sports Club, will be their first Boxing Day Test in 28 years, followed by their inaugural New Year’s Test.
The updated Afghanistan Test squad includes: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Afsar Zazai, Riaz Hassan, Sedikullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Bahir Shah Mahboob, Ismatullah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shahjad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, Farid Ahmad Malik, and AM Ghazanfar.
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