Afghanistan Unveils Squad for T20 World Cup 2026 Led by Rashid Khan

Afghanistan's T20 World Cup Squad Announced

New Delhi, December 31: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially revealed their 15-member team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with Rashid Khan appointed as captain.

This squad will also participate in the T20I series against the West Indies, commencing on January 19, 2026. The T20 World Cup is set to kick off on February 7, 2026.

All-rounder Gulbadin Naib is making a return to the team, alongside seamer Naveen-ul-Haq, who is back after recovering from a shoulder injury, according to the ICC.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was absent from the recent series against Bangladesh, will bolster Afghanistan's pace attack.

In a significant change, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been included in the squad, taking the place of AM Ghazanfar, who will serve as a reserve for the tournament.

ACB Chief Selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil expressed, “Gulbadin Naib is a player for crucial matches, and his inclusion strengthens our lineup. We are also delighted to have Naveen Ul Haq back, enhancing our fast bowling options. It was a difficult choice to exclude AM Ghazanfar from the main squad, but Mujeeb's inclusion was necessary.”

Afghanistan made history by reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, marking their first appearance at that stage in an ICC event.

In the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Afghanistan is placed in Group D alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and the UAE. The team will commence their campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai.

Afghanistan squad: Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran.

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, and Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.