Gulbadin Naib, Naveen-ul-Haq return as Afghanistan name Rashid Khan-led T20 World Cup squad | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan have named a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Rashid Khan will lead the side, which has been bolstered by the return of experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib and right-arm fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who is back after recovering from a shoulder injury.Left-handed middle-order batter Shahidullah Kamal and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq have retained their places, while young fast bowler Abdullah Ahmadzai has earned a spot in the main squad.

Pacer Fazal Haq Farooqi, who missed the recent Bangladesh series and featured only in the final T20I against Zimbabwe, has also been included in the 15-player squad for both the West Indies series and the World Cup.The inclusion of Mujeeb Ur Rahman is another key highlight, with AM Ghazanfar being named among the reserves along with middle-order batter Ijaz Ahmadzai and emerging fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.As part of their preparations for the global tournament, Afghanistan will face the West Indies in a three-match T20I series in the UAE from January 19 to 22, with the same squad selected for the series.ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said, “AfghanAtalan had a terrific run in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup. We cherish excellent memories from the past and hope for even better results this year, which will be played in Asian conditions. Hosting the West Indies team provides us with an incredible opportunity to fine-tune our combination and prepare adequately for the World Cup.”ACB Chief Selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil added, “We had good discussions over the past few days and finalised 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.”Afghanistan have been placed in Pool D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, alongside New Zealand, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Canada. They will open their campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai.In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan had caught global attention by qualifying for their first-ever semi-finals, where they lost to South Africa.

Rashid Khan (c), 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