The Afghanistan Cricket Board has taken a decisive step towards the future, naming star leg-spinner Rashid Khan as the captain for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The announcement of the 15-member squad makes Afghanistan the fifth nation, after India, Sri Lanka, Oman, and England, to reveal their plans for the global tournament slated for early 2026.
Key Returns and Squad Composition
The squad features significant comebacks, bolstering the team's strength. Pace spearhead Naveen-ul-Haq returns after recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined him during the Asia Cup in September. Mystery spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman also makes his way back into the national setup.
In a notable inclusion, left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi and veteran all-rounder Gulbadin Naib have been recalled. Both players were surprisingly omitted from the squad for Afghanistan's white-ball tour of Bangladesh in October 2025. The selected group will first gear up for a three-match T20I series against the West Indies in the UAE, serving as crucial preparation.
Road to the 2026 Tournament
Afghanistan's selection is built on the momentum of their historic semi-final finish in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Their campaign was one of the standout stories, featuring stunning victories over cricketing giants like New Zealand, Australia, West Indies, and Bangladesh. However, their dream run was halted emphatically by South Africa in the semi-final, where they were bowled out for just 56 runs.
For the 2026 edition, Afghanistan finds itself in Group D, alongside Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UAE. Their tournament opener is a highly anticipated clash against New Zealand in Chennai on February 8, 2026. The World Cup itself kicks off a day earlier on February 7 with multiple fixtures across India and Sri Lanka.
Full Squad and Immediate Focus
The identical squad for the West Indies series and the World Cup underscores a clear vision from the selectors. Ibrahim Zadran will serve as the vice-captain. The team boasts a mix of explosive batters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and seasoned all-rounders such as Mohammad Nabi.
Afghanistan Squad: Rashid Khan (Captain), Ibrahim Zadran (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
The three T20Is against the West Indies are scheduled for January 19, 21, and 22 in the UAE, providing the team a vital opportunity to build cohesion under Rashid's leadership before the World Cup challenge.
