Afghanistan have announced a 15-member squad for their upcoming three-match T20I series against India, with Ibrahim Zadran set to take charge as the team's full-time T20I captain for the first time.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the squad on Monday, with the series scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
The three matches will be played on September 13, 15 and 17, with the same venue hosting all three games. The series is part of Afghanistan's Future Tours Programme and will be played in India, where the ACB has hosted its home fixtures in recent years.
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Ibrahim Zadran's First Series As Full-Time T20I Captain
Zadran's appointment marks a new chapter for Afghanistan in the shortest format. The opener will lead the side in his first assignment since being named the team's full-time T20I captain.
The 24-year-old has already played a key role for Afghanistan across formats and will now have the responsibility of leading the team against one of the strongest sides in world cricket.
Afghanistan have included several experienced names in the squad, with Naveen-ul-Haq, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib forming the core of the team.
Naveen-ul-Haq Returns
One of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement is the return of fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq. Naveen has returned to the national setup after recovering from a stress fracture in his right shoulder. The injury had ruled him out of Afghanistan's T20I series against the West Indies as well as the 2026 T20 World Cup.
His return adds experience and variety to Afghanistan's pace attack, which also includes Fazalhaq Farooqi and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Afghanistan squad for India T20I series:
Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Noor Rahman (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq.
Reserves: Ijaz Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal, Fareed Ahmad Malik
Afghanistan To 'Host' India In India
The series will also mark a significant moment in Afghanistan's cricketing history. Although the matches will be played in India, Afghanistan will be the designated host. It will be the first time that another country will officially host India for a bilateral international series on Indian soil.
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Afghanistan have been forced to stage their home matches outside the country in recent years because international cricket has not returned to Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover in 2021. The ACB has previously hosted home fixtures in the UAE and India.
The arrangement also underlines the close cricketing relationship between the two countries, with India having regularly supported Afghanistan's home fixtures and development of the game.
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