Kabul. The National Selection Committee of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be held in India and Sri Lanka. The team will be captained by star spinner Rashid Khan, while Ibrahim Zadran has been made the vice-captain of the team.
The same team will also participate in the upcoming T-20 series against West Indies. Before the World Cup campaign, Afghanistan team will play a three-match T20 International series against West Indies, which will be hosted by Afghanistan. The series will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from January 19 to 22.
Experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib and fast bowler Naveen Ul Haq have returned to the 15-member team. Naveen has returned to the team after recovering from a shoulder injury, which has strengthened Afghanistan’s fast bowling attack. Left-handed middle-order batsman Shahidullah Kamal and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Ishaq have retained their places.
Young fast bowler Abdullah Ahmadzai has also been included in the main team. Fast bowler Fazal Haq Farooqui has also got a place in the 15-member team. Young spinner AM Ghazanfar has been kept in the list of reserve players. Along with him, middle-order batsman Ijaz Ahmedzai and young fast bowler Zia ur Rehman Sharifi are also included in the reserve pool.
ACB Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan said that the Afghan team had performed brilliantly in the last T20 World Cup. We have many good memories and we hope that this time the team will perform even better in the tournament played in Asian conditions.
Regarding the series against West Indies, he said that hosting a strong team will give us an opportunity to test our combination and prepare better for the World Cup. Chief selector Ahmed Shah Sulaimanakhi said that the team has been selected after intensive discussions over the last few days. Gulbadin Naib is a big-match player and his return will strengthen the team. We are also happy to have Naveen Ul Haq back, which will improve our fast bowling.
Afghanistan team (West Indies series and T20 World Cup 2026)
Rashid Khan (captain), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Ishaq (wicketkeeper), Sidiqullah Atal, Darveesh Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazal Haq Farooqui, Abdullah Ahmedzai.
reserve player
AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Zia ur Rehman Sharifi.
Afghanistan in Pool D at World Cup
Afghanistan have been placed in Pool D in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where they will face New Zealand, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Canada. Afghanistan will play its first match against New Zealand on 8 February in Chennai.
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