Afghanistan names squad for historic T20I series vs India

The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced a 15-member squad on Monday for a historic three-match T20I series against India, set to be played in New Delhi from September 13 to 17, 2026. The series marks the first time Afghanistan will host India as the designated home team, despite the matches being held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where Afghanistan has played its home fixtures for over a decade.

Top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran will lead the side in what is his first full-time assignment as Afghanistan's T20I captain. He replaces Rashid Khan, who stepped down after the team's early exit from the league stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Zadran has previously captained the team in 11 T20I matches.

A significant inclusion is fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who returns to the squad after recovering from shoulder surgery. The 26-year-old last played a T20I for Afghanistan in December 2024 and has been sidelined since December 2025 due to a stress fracture in his right shoulder, which caused him to miss the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup. His return bolsters a pace attack that also features Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.