The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from February 7 to March 8, 2026, in India and Sri Lanka, brings Afghanistan into the spotlight once again. Featuring 20 teams and 55 matches, this edition is set to challenge teams across diverse Asian surfaces and few sides are better suited to these conditions than Afghanistan.
With their trademark spin strength, fearless young batters, and a maturing leadership group under Rashid Khan, Afghanistan enters this tournament as one of the most dangerous contenders in Group D. After years of steady growth and impressive showings on the global stage, Afghanistan now aims to go beyond the group phase and push towards a historic Super 8 and knockout berth.
Afghanistan Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
No.
Player
Role
1
Rashid Khan (C)
Captain / All-Rounder
2
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Wicketkeeper-Batter
3
Ibrahim Zadran
Batter
4
Darwish Rasooli
Batter
5
Sediqullah Atal
Batter
6
Azmatullah Omarzai
All-Rounder
7
Karim Janat
All-Rounder
8
Mohammad Nabi
All-Rounder
9
Gulbadin Naib
All-Rounder
10
Noor Ahmad
Left-Arm Spin Bowler
11
Mujeeb ur Rahman
Off-Spin Bowler
12
AM Ghazanfar
Spinner
13
Farid Ahmad Malik
Left-Arm Pace Bowler
14
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Left-Arm Pace Bowler
15
Naveen-ul-Haq
Right-Arm Pace Bowler
Note: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) will announce the final 15-man squad closer to the tournament.
Afghanistan Team List PDF Download
The official PDF version of Afghanistan’s squad will be available for download once released by the ACB and ICC.
Captain & Team Management for T20 WC
Captain: Rashid Khan
Head Coach: Jonathan Trott (expected to continue through 2026)
Rashid Khan’s leadership brings unmatched T20 experience and tactical clarity. With Trott’s analytical coaching style and the senior core of Nabi, Nabi, Mujeeb, and Omarzai, Afghanistan’s management group is one of their biggest strengths.
Afghanistan’s Group – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Team
Qualification Path
New Zealand
ICC Men’s T20I Rankings
South Africa
Top 7 finish – T20 World Cup 2024
Afghanistan
Top 7 finish – T20 World Cup 2024
Canada
Americas Qualifier
United Arab Emirates
Asia / EAP Qualifier
Group D features world-class bowling sides and rising Associate teams an ideal stage for Afghanistan’s spin-driven strategy.
Afghanistan Group Stage Fixtures – T20 World Cup 2026
Date
Match
Venue
Time (Local / GMT)
Sun, Feb 8, 2026
New Zealand vs Afghanistan
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
11:00 AM IST / 05:30 GMT
Wed, Feb 11, 2026
South Africa vs Afghanistan
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
11:00 AM IST / 05:30 GMT
Mon, Feb 16, 2026
Afghanistan vs UAE
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
11:00 AM IST / 05:30 GMT
Thu, Feb 19, 2026
Afghanistan vs Canada
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
07:00 PM IST / 13:30 GMT
Predicted Playing XI
Position
Player
Role
1
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Wicketkeeper-Batter
2
Ibrahim Zadran
Opening Batter
3
Rashid Khan (C)
Middle-Order / All-Rounder
4
Darwish Rasooli
Middle-Order Batter
5
Sediqullah Atal
Middle-Order Batter
6
Mohammad Nabi
All-Rounder
7
Azmatullah Omarzai
All-Rounder
8
Noor Ahmad
Spinner
9
Mujeeb ur Rahman
Spinner
10
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Fast Bowler
11
Naveen-ul-Haq
Fast Bowler
Bench Strength: Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, AM Ghazanfar, Farid Ahmad Malik
Final Word
The Afghanistan squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 boasts a strong mix of youth, experience, and world-class match-winners. With Rashid Khan at the helm and an attack tailor-made for Indian pitches, Afghanistan is expected to play an exciting and aggressive brand of cricket.
As the tournament approaches, fans can look forward to a team hungry to challenge the best and create history on the world stage.
FAQs – Afghanistan Squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026
1. Who will captain Afghanistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup?
Rashid Khan is expected to lead the Afghanistan national team.
2. Who are Afghanistan’s key players?
Key players include Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Farooqi.
3. Which group is Afghanistan placed in?
Afghanistan is placed in Group D alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and UAE.
4. How many players are in Afghanistan’s expected squad?
The preliminary list includes 15 players, with final confirmation to come from the ACB.
5. When will Afghanistan play their first match?
Afghanistan’s first match is on February 8, 2026, against New Zealand in Chennai.
