KABUL: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Tuesday, unveiled a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be co-hosted in West Indies and the United States of America (USA).
Star spinner Rashid Khan has been named to lead the Afghanistan squad, which features six all-rounders.
Afghanistan made notable changes to their squad, compared to the 2022 editions with Karim Jannat, Mohammad Ishaq, and Noor Ahmad making a cut.
Meanwhile, middle-order batter Hashmatullah Shahidi, who led Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup last year in India, was not picked with his last appearance in T20Is coming in 2022.
Young spinner Nangyal Kharoti, who made his international debut in March against Ireland, managed to seal a spot in the squad at the back of his impressive performances.
The 20-year-old claimed five wickets in the three-match series against Ireland at an economy of just 5.90.
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Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq is another youngster to have secured a spot in the Afghanistan squad after being part of the team in the 2020 and 2022 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cups.
Rashid will lead Afghanistan’s strong spin department which features Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Nangyal Kharoti and veteran Mohammad Nabi.
Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooq all retained their spots and will make up Afghanistan’s fast-bowling line-up in the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan Squad for T20 World Cup: 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
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