Afghanistan Announces T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Rashid Khan to Lead

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its official 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka. The squad will also participate in a three-match T20I series against West Indies in the UAE as preparation for the global tournament.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner, has been named captain, with Ibrahim Zadran appointed as vice-captain.

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Full Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

Notable Comebacks and Key Selections

• Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib return to the squad after missing Afghanistan’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh.

• Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s inclusion led to young mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar being named among the reserves alongside Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

• Naveen-ul-Haq makes a comeback after missing the Asia Cup due to a shoulder injury. His last T20I appearance was against Zimbabwe in December 2024.

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Afghanistan’s Recent T20 Success

Afghanistan made history in the 2024 T20 World Cup, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in an ICC tournament. During that campaign, they recorded notable wins against New Zealand, West Indies, Australia, and Bangladesh, establishing themselves as a serious T20 contender on the global stage.

ACB CEO Naseeb Khan stated that the upcoming T20I series against West Indies will provide the perfect opportunity to fine-tune strategies and strengthen the squad ahead of the World Cup.

T20 World Cup 2026 Fixtures & Group Stage

Afghanistan has been placed in Group D alongside:

• New Zealand

• South Africa

• UAE

• Canada

The team will kick off their campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai, aiming to build on the momentum from their historic 2024 performance.

Conclusion

Afghanistan enters the T20 World Cup 2026 with a balanced squad of experienced stars and promising talent. With Rashid Khan leading the side, fans can expect thrilling performances as the team looks to replicate or surpass their semi-final run of 2024. The preparation series against West Indies will be key to fine-tuning the team’s strategy for the global stage.

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