Afghanistan's Squad Named For T20I Series (Source: AFP)
In a significant development, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced the squad for the much-awaited upcoming three-match T20I series against India on August 24.
The series will be played from September 13 to 17, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi. It is important to note that Ibrahim Zadran will be leading the side, and Virat Kohli's nemesis Naveen-ul-Haq has also been added.
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 13th September, 2026 | 1st T20I | |
| 15th September, 2026 | 2nd T20I | |
| 17th September, 2026 | 3rd T20I |
Ibrahim Zadran To Lead Afghanistan; Naveen-ul-Haq Returns
The 24-year-old Ibrahim Zadran will take charge of the side, and this will be a special one for the him as it marks his first assignment as Afghanistan's full-time T20I captain.
The squad has several experienced names, including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad and Azmatullah Omarzai.
One of the biggest talking points in the squad is the return of Virat Kohli's nemesis Naveen-ul-Haq. He is back in the side after recovering from a stress fracture in his right shoulder.
The injury had kept him out of Afghanistan's T20I series against the West Indies and also the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has also returned and has been included in the squad for the IND vs AFG T20I series.
Afghanistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Naseeb Khan, said in this regard:
"The Afghanistan Cricket Board has always made every effort to select a well-balanced and fully prepared squad for all relevant competitions. We have followed the same approach for the upcoming series against India, and I hope the Afghanistan team will deliver an outstanding performance in these matches."
"It is a great pride that Afghanistan is hosting a major cricketing nation for the first time. This reflects the progress Afghan cricket has made toward achieving its major objectives and shows that we are steadily advancing toward the strategic goals identified by the organization.” He further added.
Also Read: Why India-Afghanistan T20Is Is A Problem For Punjab-Based Cricketers
Rashid Khan To Lead Afghanistan's Spin Bowling Attack
Afghanistan have also selected a strong group of spin bowlers. Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Nangyal Kharoti will lead the spin department, while Mohammad Nabi adds further experience and balance.
However, spinner Allah Ghazanfar has not been included in the squad.
Afghanistan Squad For Three-Match T20I Series Against India:
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.
Ijaz Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal and Fareed Ahmad Malik have been added to the reserve pool for the series.
Why Is Naveen-ul-Haq Known As Virat Kohli's Nemesis?
It is worth noting that the fight between Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli took place during the IPL 2023 season. On May 1, 2023, Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq were involved in a heated exchange during the RCB vs LSG match.
Later, during the 2023 ODI World Cup match between India and Afghanistan in New Delhi, Indian fans repeatedly chanted Virat Kohli’s name to tease Naveen-ul-Haq.
Kohli, however, asked the crowd to stop and instead encouraged them to applaud the Afghan player.
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