Ibrahim Zadran

That debut came against Bangladesh, on Bangladeshi soil, and ended in a commanding victory for Afghanistan. It was only the second Test win in the country's history, and Ibrahim's batting in the second innings played a central part in the result.

His call-up followed a productive start in domestic cricket at home in Afghanistan. Although that career has been short, he has scored runs steadily, averaging in the 40s in both first-class and List A matches. His selection also came at a time when Afghanistan needed answers at the top of the order, a need sharpened by the contentious departure of Shahzad.

Ibrahim is regarded as a compact, determined opener with a strong temperament, though he is still considered raw and far from the complete article. He was due to turn 18 in December 2019, and on the evidence of his early showing he looks a promising figure for a side that remains new to the Test arena, particularly in the five-day format.