Abu Dhabi – The Afghan fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi will miss the opening ODI against Bangladesh because a groin overload has sidelined him, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Monday.
Safi has only played one Test, a T20I and two ODIs since his debut. Because of his injury, the board promoted fast‑bowler Bilal Sami – who has made a single ODI appearance – to the main squad. Sami will take the field from the speaker’s box while the team prepares to fight for a series win.
“We expect Saleem won’t be ready for the first ODI on Wednesday,” the ACB said. “He will focus on rehab at the High‑Performance Centre until he’s fully fit.”
The three‑match ODI series will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Oct. 8, 11 and 14. Afghanistan’s objective is to reverse the brutal 3‑0 loss in the T20I series held in Sharjah, where Bangladesh dominated both formats. In the final T20I, Afghanistan struggled at the crease, falling to a 143‑run target after wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Bangladeshi all‑rounder Saif Hassan shone with an unbeaten 64 off 38 balls, steering his side to a six‑wicket victory.
Bangladesh also beat Afghanistan by eight runs in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE, setting a competitive tone for the next showdown. The former November 2024 ODI series saw Afghanistan clinch a 2‑1 win, but the upcoming clash will test their resilience again.
Key phrases such as “Afghanistan cricket”, “Mohammad Saleem Safi injury”, “Bangladesh ODI series”, and “Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium” will help fans find this update quickly on the web.
Source: ianslive
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