Afghanistan lock T20 World Cup 2026 squad ahead of West Indies T20Is
Afghanistan Cricket Board names its 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the preparatory West Indies series, with Rashid Khan at the helm.
Afghanistan (Image Credit: ACC)
Last Updated: 04.39 PM, Dec 31, 2025
Afghanistan have officially announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Veteran leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been named captain, entrusted with leading Afghanistan's campaign as they aim to make a strong impact in the global tournament.
The squad also doubles as the lineup for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies, scheduled from January 19 to 22, 2026 in the UAE, providing crucial preparation ahead of the World Cup. With the team placed in Group D of the marquee event, alongside New Zealand, South Africa, the UAE and Canada, their campaign gets underway against New Zealand in Chennai on February 8.
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
His return boosts our team: ACB Cheif Selector
The Afghanistan selectors are pretty happy with the rerurn of Gulbadin Naib, one of the best players in the team. ACB Chief Selector mentioned that his return will 'boost the team's confidence' during the marquee event. Afghanistan have shown great potential in the previous ICC events and will be hoping to have better results in the upcoming World Cup 2026.
"We had good discussions over the past few days and finalized the squad. Gulbadin Naib is a big-match player, and his return boosts our team. We are also pleased to have Naveen Ul Haq back, which enhances the quality of our fast bowling. It was a tough decision to leave AM Ghazanfar out of the main squad, as his place made way for Mujeeb. Shahidullah Kamal performed well in the recent event and provides us with a valuable left-handed option, which is crucial in major tournaments," said ACB Chief SelectorAhman Shah Sulimankhil.
Where to watch T20 World Cup 2026 matches?
Cricket fans in India can watch the T20 World Cup 2026 matches from February 7 online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.