Afghanistan T20 World Cup squad announced, Mumbai Indians star kicked out

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has revealed a 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held across India and Sri Lanka in February-March. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been named captain as Afghanistan prepare for another major global tournament in the subcontinent.

Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the Afghanistan national cricket team will fine-tune their preparations with a three-match T20I series against the West Indies. The same squad selected for the World Cup will take part in the upcoming series, giving the team continuity before the global tournament.

The series will be played in the United Arab Emirates from January 19 to January 22. Notably, the matches are expected to help Afghanistan test combinations, assess player form, and settle their playing XI ahead of the tournament.

Afghanistan T20 World Cup Squad Announced, Rashid Khan Named Captain, AM Ghazanfar snubbed

Rashid Khan will lead Afghanistan in the upcoming T20 assignments. The squad has received a boost with the return of seasoned all-rounder Gulbadin Naib and fast bowler Naveen ul Haq, who is back after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, along with other younger talents, have been picked for the World Cup. Afghanistan selectors focused on experience, balance, and depth as they prepare for the West Indies series and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Afghanistan Squad for the West Indies Series and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026:

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 and Abdullah Ahmadzai

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi

More to follow…

Also read: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in 2026: India’s Full Cricket Schedule Revealed