The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka jointly from February 7. The various competing teams have started to announce the provisional squads for the ICC event. On Wednesday Afghanistan were the latest team to announce their squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Gujarat Titans leg-spinner Rashid Khan is set to lead the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinalists in the 2026 edition of the tournament. In the squad announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday the selectors have recalled veteran all-rounder and former captain Gulbadin Naib as well as former Lucknow Super Giants pacer Naveen-ul-Haq. They have also named top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran as the deputy of Rashid Khan. Rashid who was retained for Rs 18 crore by Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans has claimed 182 wickets in T20I cricket in only 108 matches at an amazing average of 13.69. Former LSG pacer Naveen is best known for his clash with Virat Kohli during the IPL 2024 season. The Afghanistan pacer returns after recovering from a shoulder injury and last featured in an international match back in December 2024. Naib who was captain of Afghanistan in 2019 ODI World Cup was left out of Afghanistan’s white-ball tour squad vs Bangladesh in October as was the experienced left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi who has also been included in the squad. “We had good discussions over the past few days and finalized the squad. Gulbadin Naib is a big-match player and his return boosts our team. We are also pleased to have Naveen Ul Haq back which enhances the quality of our fast bowling” chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil said. The squad also features off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. His inclusion has pushed mystery spinner from Mumbai Indians Allah Ghazanfar into the reserves. Afghanistan enjoyed their best-ever run in an ICC event at the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in 2024 where they reached the semifinals – losing to finalists South Africa. In 2026 edition they have been drawn in Group D alongside New Zealand South Africa the United Arab Emirates and Canada. Afghanistan will open their campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai. The same squad will also play a three-match T20I series against the West Indies in the UAE ahead of the World Cup starting January 19. “Afghanistan had a terrific run in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup. We cherish excellent memories from the past and hope for even better results this year which will be played in Asian conditions” Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan said. “Hosting the West Indies team provides us with an incredible opportunity to fine-tune our combination and prepare adequately for the World Cup.”   ACB Name AfghanAtalan Squad for the West Indies Series and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Kabul – December 31 2025: The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee has finalized the AfghanAtalan Squad for the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies and the… pic.twitter.com/odBoCbMAWy — Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 31 2025 Afghanistan Squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Rashid Khan (Captain) Ibrahim Zadran (VC) Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK) Mohammad Ishaq (WK) Sediqullah Atal Darwish Rasooli Shahidullah Kamal Azmatullah Omarzai Gulbadin Naib Mohammad Nabi Noor Ahmad Mujeeb Ur Rahman Naveen Ul Haq Fazal Haq Farooqi and Abdullah Ahmadzai. Reserves: Allah Ghazanfar Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.