Rahmat Shah is set to take the helm as captain for the Afghanistan ODI team for the first time as they prepare to face Ireland in a five-match series beginning August 5. The 33-year-old, who has served as the vice-captain in both Tests and ODIs since 2021, currently stands as Afghanistan's leading run-getter in the format with 4,121 runs at an average of 35.22. This series also marks the return of Hashmatullah Shahidi as a regular squad member following his resignation as captain, a position he held for 55 ODIs between January 2022 and the conclusion of the series against India last month.
The 15-player squad features the return of fast bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai, who last appeared in 50-over cricket for the national side in February 2025 and November 2022, respectively. Farooqi, who has been maintaining his form in the Lanka Premier League with five wickets in two matches for the Dambulla Sixers, joins a reinforced bowling attack. Conversely, Mujeeb Ur Rahman remains unavailable due to an injury. Veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi will also miss the tour, as he is currently committed to the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the Global Super League in Guyana, which concludes on August 2. Fareed Malik and Bilal Sami have been shifted to the reserves bench following the team's 3-0 series loss to India in June.
The five-match series is scheduled to begin with the first two ODIs in Bready on August 5 and 7, before the teams travel to Belfast for the final three matches on August 10, 12, and 15. The full squad includes Rahmat Shah (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vc, wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Nangyal Kharotai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Saleem Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi. Qais Ahmad, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami, and Bashir Ahmad have been named as reserves.
