Afghanistan bring back Naib, Naveen for T20 World Cup 2026

Naveen-ul-Haq and Gulbadin Naib have returned to the Afghanistan side for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The 15-player squad, set to be led by Rashid Khan, was announced by the Afghanistan Cricket Board on Wednesday.

Naveen, who has recovered from his shoulder injury, last played a T20I in December 2024, and hasn't featured in an international match since then. The returning duo, along with Mohammad Ishaq, were not a part of the T20I side that toured Zimbabwe in October and November earlier this year. Ishaq, the 20-year-old wicketkeeper, then played in a one-off T20I against Qatar.

Afghanistan squad: Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi

Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Bashir Ahmad and Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai - who were part of Afghanistan's squad for the Zimbabwe series - have been left out.

Afghanistan are placed in Group D, alongside New Zealand, South Africa, UAE and Canada. Their campaign will kickstart against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai.

This 15-player squad will also be a part of the three-match series against West Indies, set to be played in UAE, from January 19.