Overview
- On Friday the Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed Rahmat Shah as captain and Rahmanullah Gurbaz as vice‑captain, settling leadership after Hashmatullah Shahidi stepped down.
- The ACB published a 15‑player ODI squad plus four reserves for the five‑match Ireland series starting August 5, with Ikram Alikhil named wicketkeeper and Qais Ahmad, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami and Bashir Ahmad listed as reserves.
- Star leg‑spinner Rashid Khan returns to the ODI side and left‑arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi was recalled, while veteran all‑rounder Mohammad Nabi was omitted from the 15‑man squad.
- Selectors boosted the pace options — adding Yamin Ahmadzai and Saleem Safi alongside Farooqi — a clear response to recent concerns about the bowling group following a 3–0 ODI defeat to India.
- The Ireland tour, with two matches at Bready and three in Belfast from August 5–15, will be Rahmat Shah’s first assignment as full‑time captain and a live trial to finalise combinations ahead of the 2027 World Cup Qualifier.