T20 World Cup 2026 Afghanistan Squad: Full Player List
Search T20 World Cup 2026 Afghanistan Squad and you’re really asking one thing: are Afghanistan good enough to go one step further than 2024?
Honestly? Yes. But with a warning label.
This squad is built like a heist crew. Rashid runs the plan, the spinners lock the vault, and the pacers are there to stop teams from simply muscling their way out. The only thing that can trip them up is… Afghanistan’s own batting going missing for 30 balls at a time. You’ve seen it before. We all have.
Let’s get into the Afghanistan Team Players List, the likely combinations, and how they match up in Group D.
Full Player List: Afghanistan squad (likely 15)
Here’s the core Likely Squad of 15 that Afghanistan are shaping around for this World Cup cycle:
Batters / Keepers
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) – powerplay chaos, in a good way
Mohammad Ishaq (wk) – backup keeper, steadier tempo
Ibrahim Zadran (vc) – the anchor, the calm head
Sediqullah Atal – left-hander option (massive in India)
Darwish Rasooli – middle-order hitter/tempo player
All-rounders
Mohammad Nabi – experience, off-spin match-ups, clutch overs
Azmatullah Omarzai – seam-bowling all-rounder, finishing power
Gulbadin Naib – “big game” energy, heavy-ball cutters, late hitting
Shahidullah Kamal – extra spin depth + left-hand balance
Bowlers
Rashid Khan (c) – the whole identity of Afghan T20 cricket
Mujeeb Ur Rahman – powerplay “mystery” squeeze, carrom-ball trouble
Noor Ahmad – left-arm wrist-spin… and yes, it’s a nightmare to face
Fazalhaq Farooqi – new-ball swing + death overs angle
Naveen-ul-Haq – cutters, wide yorkers, street-smart death bowling
Abdullah Ahmadzai – raw pace/energy, the high-risk wicket-taker
Reserves watch (if they need a switch): AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.
That’s a squad with a very clear personality: choke you with spin, and dare you to take risks.
Key players who decide Afghanistan’s tournament
Rashid Khan: still the cheat code
Every team plans for Rashid. Most teams still lose 2 wickets trying to “just see him off”. He’s not just a bowler now either — he captains like a guy who knows T20 is basically a series of traps.
If Afghanistan make the semis (or more), Rashid will have owned the middle overs again. Simple.
Gurbaz + Zadran: the entire batting mood
This opening pair decides whether Afghanistan are chasing 155 like it’s 250… or cruising at 8 an over.
If Gurbaz fires: Afghanistan can hit 180+ and suddenly their bowling becomes unfair.
If Gurbaz falls early and Zadran gets stuck: you get that familiar 42/2 after 7 overs and everyone starts “calculating” instead of playing.
Noor Ahmad: the left-arm wrist-spin problem nobody enjoys
Right-hand heavy line-ups hate him. Even teams that play Rashid well sometimes get sloppy against Noor because they try to attack the “second spinner.” That’s where Afghanistan feast.
Naveen and Farooqi: the grown-up pace department
Afghanistan used to be “spin or nothing”. Not anymore. Farooqi swings it early and has that awkward left-arm angle at the death. Naveen? He’s made a living in franchise cricket annoying batters with slower balls that arrive five minutes late.
In Indian conditions, that skill set matters more than raw 150 kph pace.
Coach & team management: Trott’s last dance vibe
Jonathan Trott stepping away after this tournament gives the whole campaign a proper edge.
Players love a “send-off” story. It can sharpen focus… or make things weird if you start badly and the noise gets loud. Afghanistan’s dressing room has matured a lot in the last couple of years — this is where you find out how much.
Rashid’s role as captain becomes even bigger here: keep the group clear-headed, keep the plans simple, don’t let one batting collapse spiral into two.
Group Stage Fixtures: who they play and where it’ll be won
Afghanistan’s Group Match set-up is spicy: New Zealand, South Africa, UAE, Canada.
And the venues matter. A lot.
vs New Zealand (likely Chennai-style conditions)
If this is on a proper turning surface, Afghanistan will fancy it. New Zealand are smart, but even smart teams can look helpless when the ball grips and your best option is “sweep and pray”.
This is the match that can swing the whole group.
vs South Africa (Ahmedabad-type conditions)
This is the real test because South Africa bring proper heat with the ball and serious power with the bat.
Ahmedabad can play two ways depending on the strip, but generally: if Afghanistan’s top order survives the first 4–5 overs without panic, they’re in the game. If they lose 2 early, South Africa’s pacers can bulldoze the innings before spin even matters.
vs UAE (Delhi-style small boundaries)
This is the danger game if Afghanistan get casual. Small boundaries punish lazy lengths. The plan here is discipline, not drama.
Win it clean. Boost NRR. Move on.
vs Canada
This is where Afghanistan should be ruthless. Not disrespectful — just ruthless. You want two points and a healthy net run rate because Group D can get tight fast.
Predicted Playing XI: what Afghanistan likely start with
Afghanistan’s best XI changes a bit depending on the pitch. Here’s the “default” balance:
Predicted Playing XI
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
Ibrahim Zadran
Sediqullah Atal
Darwish Rasooli
Azmatullah Omarzai
Mohammad Nabi
Gulbadin Naib
Rashid Khan (c)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Noor Ahmad
Fazalhaq Farooqi
If it’s flatter / more bounce (think Ahmedabad on a good batting strip):
Naveen-ul-Haq can come in for one of the extra spin/all-round options, depending on who’s batting well.
Team strength & key analysis: why Afghanistan can win it… and why they can still crash out
What makes them scary
Best spin core in the tournament on their day. No exaggeration.
Spin variety: right-arm leg-spin, left-arm wrist-spin, mystery off-spin, orthodox match-ups.
Better death bowling than people admit, especially with Naveen fit.
What still worries me
Batting stalls. Afghanistan can go five overs without a boundary and suddenly they’re 25 runs short.
Over-reliance on the top two. If Gurbaz and Zadran both fail, it’s scramble mode.
Dew can be a thief in India. A wet ball can turn your “spin choke” into “why is this skidding on?”
The simple recipe for a deep run
One of the top order needs to bat deep at least twice in the group stage.
Rashid has to get support — one of Noor/Mujeeb must have a “tournament” too.
Don’t blink in the big moment. That’s it. That’s the whole sport.
Final thought
This T20 World Cup 2026 Afghanistan Squad has the bowling to beat anyone, anywhere — especially in Asia. They’re not here to be the nice story anymore.
If the batting gives them even 165 consistently, Afghanistan can absolutely bully their way into the knockouts and beyond.
And if they don’t? It won’t be because they lacked talent. It’ll be because T20 cricket punishes hesitation… and Afghanistan can’t afford even two quiet overs at the wrong time.