Afghanistan name revised 15-man squad for T20 World Cup 2021

In the latest, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have announced squad their final 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021. On Sunday (October 10), the national board took to social media and confirmed the same. Afghanistan is slotted in Group 2 of the Super 12s, along with India, Pakistan, and New Zealand. With the side being among the top eight nations in this format, they don’t have to go through the preliminary round.

A few days ago, ACB had announced a 17-man squad alongside two travelling reserves for the gala tournament. However, owing to the tournament norms, they have now named a trimmed 15-member squad. The likes of Sharafuddin Ashraf and Dawlat Zadran, who were in the initially announced squad, have now been named travel reserves alongside Samiullah Shinwari and Fazal Haq Farooqi.

Afghanistan squad for T20 World Cup 2021#ICCT20WorldCup2021 pic.twitter.com/VekD4GNYA2

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 10, 2021

Afghanistan to start their campaign on October 25

At the same time, Farid Ahmad Malik has been promoted to the top 15 from reserves. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will kick-start their T20 World Cup campaign against a qualifier from Group B on October 25 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. With big teams like Pakistan, India, and New Zealand being in their group, it would be interesting to see how their campaign pans out.

Notably, Rashid Khan was initially set to lead Afghanistan in the gala tournament. However, the star leg-spinner resigned minutes after the probable squad for the tournament was announced a few days back. Subsequently, ACB officials, under the new Taliban regime, named Mohammad Nabi as the new skipper.

The Afghanistan team certainly has a point to prove in the Gulf nation as their cricket has been in a state of turmoil ever since Taliban took over the nation. Several reports had even suggested that ICC might forbid Afghanistan’s participation if they decide to play under the Taliban flag. However, those reports were rubbished by the ICC acting CEO and now Afghanistan must gear up.

Afghanistan squad for T20 World Cup 2021: Mohammad Nabi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Mohammad Shahzad, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Farid Ahmad Malik, Naveen Ul Haq

Reserve players: Sharafuddin Ashraf, Samiullah Shinwari, Dawlat Zadran, Fazal Haq Farooqi