Afghanistan recently unveiled their 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in June in the West Indies and the USA. Led by the dynamic Rashid Khan, the squad blends experience and youthful talent.

Rashid Khan to Lead the Charge

Rashid Khan, known for his formidable spin bowling and astute leadership, has been entrusted with the captaincy duties for Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup. With his wealth of experience in the shortest-game format, Rashid’s leadership will be pivotal for Afghanistan’s campaign.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: All squads announced so far

Squad Additions and Omissions

Afghanistan has introduced several new faces to their squad compared to the previous edition. Karim Janat, Mohammad Ishaq, and Noor Ahmad have all earned spots in the team, bringing fresh energy and skills to the table.

One notable absence from the squad is Hashmatullah Shahidi, who led Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Despite his leadership credentials, Shahidi has been omitted from the T20 World Cup squad, with his last T20I appearance dating back to 2022.

Youngster Nangyal Kharoti recently made his international debut against Ireland and has been rewarded with a place in the squad. The 20-year-old impressed selectors with his stellar performance, claiming five wickets in three matches with an impressive economy rate.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq, a familiar face from Afghanistan’s U19 setup, has also been included in the squad. Having represented Afghanistan in previous U19 World Cups, Ishaq brings skill and youthfulness to the team’s batting lineup.

Bowling Arsenal

Rashid Khan will spearhead Afghanistan’s spin attack, supported by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Nangyal Kharoti, and veteran Mohammad Nabi. The spinners are expected to be crucial in containing opposition batters and taking key wickets.

Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooq form Afghanistan’s fast-bowling arsenal. With their ability to bowl at pace and extract bounce from the surface, these bowlers add depth to Afghanistan’s bowling lineup.

Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik

Reserves: Sediq Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Saleem Safi