Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who missed the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, has also been included, adding depth and variety to Afghanistan’s pace bowling attack. In another major change, Mujeeb Ur Rahman returns to the side, replacing young spinner AM Ghazanfar, who has been named in the reserves.
Afghanistan has been placed in Group D of the tournament, alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. They will start their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai, a venue expected to provide favorable conditions for spin bowling.
Strengths
Afghanistan’s greatest strength lies in their formidable spin bowling unit. They will play in subcontinental conditions in India and Sri Lanka, which traditionally support slower bowlers, giving Afghanistan a significant advantage. The presence of world-class spinners like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi makes them a dangerous side. All four have significant experience of playing in India through the Indian Premier League (IPL), allowing them to quickly adapt to on-field conditions and exploit opponent weaknesses with disciplined line and length.
Weaknesses
The percussion situation in Afghanistan remains a major concern. Their top and middle order batsmen often rely heavily on aggressive strokeplay and boundary hitting, sometimes at the expense of game awareness. Players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal tend to score at a fast pace but can struggle to put together longer innings when required. This lack of adaptability could hurt Afghanistan in pressure situations against stronger teams.
Possibilities
Afghanistan has already proven its ability to upset the top parties on the world stage. During the 2024 T20 World Cup, they recorded historic victories over Australia and New Zealand, demonstrating their growing confidence and maturity. With similar conditions expected in 2026, they have another chance to repeat those performances and challenge established cricketing nations.
Threats
Despite their talent and experience, Afghanistan have occasionally failed in high-pressure knockout or must-win matches. Afghanistan still sometimes struggles to manage expectations and maintain composure under pressure. If this is not addressed, it could limit their chances of making a deep run in the tournament.
Afghanistan squad for T20 World Cup 2026:
Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran
Reservations: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi
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