KABUL: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACP) on Wednesday announced that right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi has been included in their squad for the three-match ODI series against India starting on June 13.
Salim was originally one of the three reserve players for the ODI series against India, but was pushed into the final squad on the back of his spirited performance in their previous one-off Test against the home team in New Chandigarh.
During the lone red-ball match, Saleem bowled long spells and touched 140 kmph despite the sweltering heat and less support for fast bowlers on the surface.
Although Afghanistan lost the match by an innings and 300 runs, his six-wicket haul in the first and only Indian innings was one of the few positives for the tour team.
“He was fantastic,” Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus said of Saleem’s performance in the lone Test against India.
“When you come here and take six wickets against top-quality batting in the heat, it’s good for him not only as a bowler but for us as a side.”
The three-match ODI series, the first ever bilateral series between India and Afghanistan, will begin on June 14 with the opening match at Dharamshala, while Lucknow and Chennai will host the next two matches on June 17 and 20 respectively.
Updated Afghanistan ODI Squad for India Series:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wk), Ibrahim Sadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darweesh Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Aligil (W), Mohammad Nabi, Asmatullah Umarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Garodai, Rahmani Fassa Malik, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Bilal Sami.
Reserves: Qais Ahmed and Basheer Ahmed.