Afghanistan fast bowler Mohammad Saleem misses the three-match ODI series in Abu Dhabi due to a groin injury, with Bilal Sami named as his replacement.
Abu Dhabi| ASJFNews Disk
Afghanistan fast bowler Mohammad Saleem has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi due to a groin (adductor) overload, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed.
Saleem, 23, who last played for Afghanistan in a Test against Sri Lanka in February 2024, will report to the ACB’s High Performance Center for rehabilitation. He has featured in just two ODIs, both against Bangladesh in July 2023.
Replacing him in the squad is 21-year-old right-arm medium pacer Bilal Sami, who made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in December 2024. Sami has played 25 List A matches, taking 44 wickets at an average of 25.72, and represented Afghanistan Under-19 at the 2022 World Cup, claiming four wickets in five matches.
Sami recently impressed in Afghanistan’s domestic List A competition, the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament, finishing as his team Speen Ghar Region’s second-highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets at an average of 22.90 and an economy rate of 4.97.
Afghanistan will open the series against Bangladesh on Wednesday, October 8, in Abu Dhabi.
