ICC T20 World Cup, Afghanistan announce 15-member squad: Details here
What's the story
Afghanistan have named a 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, starting in Australia on next month.
Mohammad Nabi will lead the side. He was the skipper in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022.
Meanwhile, Samiullah Shinwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, and Noor Ahmad, who were all part of the Asia Cup squad, miss out.
Here are the details.
Squad
A look at Afghanistan's World Cup squad
Afghanistan T20 World Cup squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Salim Safi, Usman Ghani
Reserves: Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib
Schedule
Here's a look at Afghanistan's schedule
Afghanistan belong to Group 1 in the T20 World Cup. They begin their campaign on October 22 against England in Perth.
Here's a look at Afghanistan's schedule - October 22: Afghanistan vs England, Perth, October 26: Afghanistan vs New Zealand, Melbourne, October 28: Afghanistan vs TBA, Melbourne, November 1: Afghanistan vs TBA, Melbourne, November 4: Afghanistan vs Australia, Adelaide.
Players
Rasooli, Qais, and Safi added to the squad
Middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli, all-rounder Qais Ahmad, and right-arm pacer Salim Safi have been added to the squad.
Rasooli, who made his international debut earlier this year, has recovered from a finger injury.
Qais Ahmed returns to the squad, last having played a T20I in March 2022 against Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Safi has earned his maiden international call-up.
Afghanistan
Can Nabi help Afghanistan do well?
Afghanistan reached the Super Four of the Asia Cup under Nabi recently. However, they lost all three matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Indian respectively.
Nabi has been performing poorly of late and he needs to step up and lead by example.
Rashid Khan is the main trump card. He has claimed 118 scalps and is the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is.