Mangal to lead Afghanistan against Australia

Nawroz Mangal will lead Afghanistan against Australia in their one-off ODI in Sharjah on Saturday. Mangal, Afghanistan's regular captain, had missed their previous international assignment - the Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League Championship matches against Ireland in July.

Mohammad Nabi has been named vice-captain, ahead of Karim Sadiq who stood in for Mangal in the Ireland games. The squad includes batsman Javed Ahmadi, who had captained Afghanistan Under-19s at the ongoing World Cup in Australia.

The only player to miss out from the XI that played the World Cricket League Championship (the ICC's 50-overs competition for Associates) game against Ireland, is left-arm spinner Hamza Hotak.

The ODI against Australia will be Afghanistan's second against a Full Member, following the game against Pakistan, also in Sharjah, in February. Australia are in the UAE for a limited-overs series against Pakistan, and Cricket Australia said that they had agreed to play the match against Afghanistan in an effort to assist with their cricketing development.