Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran Ruled Out of New Zealand Test and South Africa ODI Series
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| Ibrahim Zadran ruled out of Afghanistan’s Test against New Zealand and ODI series vs South Africa due to an ankle sprain. Big blow for Afghanistan’s top order! / Getty |
Afghanistan's top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran has been ruled out of the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand and the subsequent ODI series against South Africa due to an ankle sprain.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed Zadran’s unavailability, dealing a significant blow to the national side.
Zadran, one of only four Test centurions for Afghanistan, was expected to play a crucial role in the historic one-off Test against New Zealand, which marks the first time the two sides will meet in the longest format of the game.
The Test will be played in Greater Noida, India, starting on Monday, September 9.
Following the Test match, Afghanistan is set to face South Africa in a three-match ODI series in the UAE from September 18-22. This series will be the first bilateral meeting between Afghanistan and South Africa outside of ICC tournaments, with all three games taking place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Afghanistan has yet to name a replacement for Zadran in the ODI squad against the Proteas. His absence leaves a gap in the batting lineup, and Afghanistan will need to make adjustments as they prepare for a challenging run of fixtures against top international opponents.