"Rashid Khan returns to the Test squad, which is a promising sign for our red-ball game going forward," Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, ACB's interim chief selector, said in a statement. "The rest of the team underwent good preparations recently in Nangarhar province, which featured 19 players and all the support staff to work with the players and ensure full preparation for the series.

"We have thoroughly monitored the proceedings and have picked the squad which includes several new faces, including Ismat Alam, Bashir Ahmad, and Zahir Shehzad, who have performed well during the recent Ahmad Shah Abdali first-class tournament."

Meanwhile, Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, and Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai will be part of the group as reserve players.

Bulawayo will host both the Test matches, with the series running from December 26 to January 6.

Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Ikram Alikhail (wk), Afsar Zazai (wk), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, and Fareed Ahmad Malik