Afghanistan pick three uncapped players for Bangladesh ODIs

Afghanistan have picked three uncapped players - Ihsanullah, Karim Janat and Naveen-ul-Haq - in their 17-member squad for the ODI series against Bangladesh. Noor Ali Zadran, Javed Ahmadi, Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran were among the exclusions from the ODI squad that toured Scotland and Ireland in July this year.

Ihsanullah, the 18-year-old opening batsman, was picked in Afghanistan's squad for their Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands earlier this year, amid Afghanistan's continuing struggles to find a settled opening partner for Mohammad Shahzad. Ihsanullah scored 15 in Afghanistan's innings win, his only first-class match.

Ihsanullah has scored 294 runs in 12 youth ODIs - all in the Under-19 World Cup. He also captained Afghanistan in the 2016 U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh. Nawroz Mangal, Ihsanullah's older brother, was recalled after being left out of the Scotland and Ireland ODIs.

The squad comprises allrounders Janat and 16-year-old Naveen-ul-Haq, who were also part of the U-19 World Cup squad in Bangladesh. Janat finished as the side's leading run-scorer, and seventh overall, with 273 runs in six matches at an average of 45.50. Batsman Shabir Noori, who last played for Afghanistan in 2012, was also recalled after consistent performances in the 2016 domestic season.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh begin their three-match ODI series in Dhaka on September 25.