Rashid Khan to Captain Afghanistan as They Field a Strong Team for T20 World Cup

Rashid Khan to Lead Strong Afghanistan Squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Star all-rounder Rashid Khan will captain a strong Afghanistan cricket team in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in February–March in India and Sri Lanka, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Wednesday.

The Afghanistan squad has been further strengthened by the return of key bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, boosting the team’s pace and spin attack ahead of the 20-team global tournament.

Experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib and fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq have also been named in the 15-member Afghanistan T20 World Cup squad, underlining the selectors’ focus on balance and depth.

Afghanistan enter the tournament with confidence after an impressive run in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals, defeating strong teams such as New Zealand, West Indies, and Australia.

As part of their World Cup preparations, Afghanistan will play a three-match T20 series against West Indies in the United Arab Emirates next month, providing valuable match practice in conditions similar to those expected during the tournament.

“Afghanistan had a terrific run in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup,” said ACB Chief Executive Naseeb Khan. “We carry positive memories and are hopeful of delivering even better results this time, especially with matches being played in Asian conditions.”

He added that hosting West Indies would be a crucial step in finalizing team combinations and sharpening strategies ahead of the World Cup.

Afghanistan will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai, marking a high-profile start to their quest for another deep run in the tournament.