T20 World Cup 2024: Afghanistan World Cup squad announced, Rashid Khan to lead

Afghanistan, on Tuesday (April 30), announced their squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Rashid Khan has been named the captain of the 15-member squad for the marquee event, scheduled to be played in June in the United States and the Caribbeans.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, who led Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup last year, has failed to make the cut for the T20 World Cup. The left-handed batsman last played a T20I for Afghanistan in 2022. Shahidi has played only six T20Is so far and was not a part of the Afghan team for the last T20 World Cup as well.

The Afghan team have also made a few additions to their squad compared to the 2022 edition as the likes of  Karim Janat, Mohammad Ishaq, and Noor Ahmad have been named in the team. 20-year-old left-arm spinner Nangyal Kharoti has been named in the squad as well.

Kharoti made his T20I debut for Afghanistan last month during the T20I series against Ireland and hit the ground running. He picked up an impressive five wickets in three games while maintaining a brilliant economy rate of just 5.90. 

Talking about another new face in the team. Mohammad Ishaq has made the cut as well. The 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has played four T20Is so far. He was a part of the Afghanistan squad in the 2020 and 2022 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cups.

Afghanistan squad:

The onus will be on the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Najibullah Zadran to deliver with the bat for Afghanistan. The Asian team has a formidable spin attack for the tournament. The spin department will be led by captain Rashid Khan and comprises the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Nangyal Kharoti, and veteran Mohammad Nabi.

As far as the fast bowlers in the team are concerned, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooq have been named in the squad.

Afghanistan Squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2024:

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