AFG Vs NZ: Huge Setback For Afghanistan As Naveed Zadran Ruled Out Of New Zealand Test

Afghanistan have played three Test matches in India, winning one and losing two. This will also be the first time Afghanistan will be facing New Zealand in the longest format.

New Delhi: Afghanistan seamer Naveed Zadran has been ruled out of the one-off Test against New Zealand due to a side strain injury. The Test match which will take place at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Cricket Stadium in Greater Noida, is slated to start from September 9. Naveed was named in Afghanistan’s 20-member preliminary squad that came to India for a week-long training camp for the New Zealand Test. However, Afghanistan are yet to name the final squad.

The 19-year-old has been to rest for three to four weeks with the management expecting the pacer to be fit before the ODI series against South Africa in UAE. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is yet to name a replacement for Naveed. “Fast Bowler Naveed Zadran has been ruled out of Afghanistan’s only test match against New Zealand due to side strain injury.

“The physio has advised him to rest for 3-4 weeks hoping that he gets better before the South Africa ODI series in UAE,” ACB said in a statement. For the unknown, itwill be the first-ever Test match between the two sides.

🚨 Update🚨

Fast Bowler Naveed Zadran has been ruled out of Afghanistan’s only test match against New Zealand due to side strain injury.

The physio has advised him to rest for 3-4 weeks hoping that he gets better before the South Africa ODI series in UAE.

Get well soon Naveed! pic.twitter.com/0n2YlfGd5p

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 6, 2024

Notably, Afghanistan are also without the services of their captain Rashid Khan who has been advised not to participate in the longest format for one year by his doctors following his back operation last year. On the other hand, New Zealand have arrived in India on Thursday and had their first practice session at the ground on Friday.

Afghanistan Preliminary Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Alikhel (wk), Shahidullah Kamal, Gulbadin Naib, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ziaurrahman Akbar, Shamsurrahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masoud, Farid Ahmad Malik, Khalil Ahmad and Yama Arab.