Skip to main content

Independent sports news outlet from Afghanistan

Latest
News

Naveen Returns as Ibrahim Leads Afghanistan Squad for India T20Is

Naveen-ul-Haq has returned to Afghanistan’s T20I squad for the three-match series against India after recovering from a shoulder stress fracture. Ibrahim Zadran will lead the 15-player group in his first assignment as Afghanistan’s full-time T20I captain.
Naveen-ul-Haq celebrates with Afghanistan teammates during an international cricket match

Afghanistan has named a 15-player squad for its three-match T20 international series against India in New Delhi from September 13 to 17.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced the group on August 24, confirming Ibrahim Zadran as captain for what it described as his first series since becoming the team’s full-time T20I leader.

Fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq returns after recovering from a stress fracture in his right shoulder. The injury had ruled him out of Afghanistan’s series against the West Indies and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Naveen joins Fazal Haq Farooqi and Abdullah Ahmadzai among the specialist pace options, with Azmatullah Omarzai providing an all-round role.

Gulbadin Naib has also returned, while uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman has been selected as the second wicketkeeper alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The spin group includes Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Nangyal Kharoti.

The remainder of the squad is Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli and Mohammad Nabi. Ijaz Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal and Fareed Ahmad Malik were named in the reserve pool.

All three matches are scheduled for the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium. The opening T20I will be played on September 13, followed by matches on September 15 and 17.

This report concerns Afghanistan’s squad and is separate from ASJFNEWS’s earlier coverage of India’s selection for the same series.