The countdown for T20 World Cup 2026 has started. This tournament being organized in India and Sri Lanka will start from February 7, in which a total of 20 teams are participating. Before this, a mountain of sorrow has fallen on a player of Afghanistan team. 19 year old Allah Ghazanfar’s father has passed away.

Allah Ghazanfar is not included in the main squad of the Afghanistan team for the T20 World Cup 2026, but he has been included among the reserve players. Let us tell you that officially any country can make changes in its team till January 31, but after this or in between the tournaments, any team will need ICC’s permission to make any changes.

Allah Ghazanfar gave information about father’s demise

Allah Ghazanfar informed about his father’s demise through social media. Ghazanfar is a part of Mumbai Indians in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), who was retained by the franchise for Rs 4.80 crore.

The 19-year-old Afghan bowler has played in many cricket leagues around the world. He has played 1 Test, 14 ODI and 5 T20 International matches for Afghanistan, in which he has taken 4, 23 and 2 wickets respectively.

Afghanistan squad in T20 World Cup 2026

Rashid Khan (captain), Noor Ahmed, Abdullah Ahmedzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqui, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Umarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran.

reserve: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia ur Rehman Sharifi.

Afghanistan is in Group D

Afghanistan cricket team is included in Group D, in which the other four teams are Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and UAE. Afghanistan can remain strong against Canada and UAE, the real challenge they will face is from New Zealand and South Africa. However, this team has made many big upsets in history, so it would not be much of a surprise if this team reaches the Super-8.

Afghanistan cricket team has suffered a big blow, star bowler Naveen Ul Haq has been ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026. Now only about 20 days are left for the start of this tournament which is going to be held in India and Sri Lanka, before this the exclusion of the experienced fast bowler is a big loss for this team.

The T20 World Cup 2026 will start from February 7, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. A total of 20 teams will play in the tournament, which have been placed in 4 groups of 5 each. Afghanistan cricket team is included in Group D, which also includes Canada and UAE. Afghanistan will face a tough challenge from New Zealand and South Africa, but the team has experienced many big upsets in history. The team is a strong contender to go to the Super-8, but the exclusion of Naveen Ul Haq, who has played 48 T20 International matches, is a big blow for the team. He plays in many leagues of the world including IPL, the team will definitely miss him.

Afghanistan squad for T20 World Cup

Rashid Khan (captain), Noor Ahmed, Abdullah Ahmedzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqui, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Umarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran, Naveen Ul Haq (out).

reserve: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia ur Rehman Sharifi.

Afghanistan Announce Their Squad For T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan Cricket Board announced its 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. In this tournament, Afghanistan team will be captained by star leg spinner Rashid Khan and opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran has been made the vice-captain. The Afghanistan team had performed amazingly in the 2024 T20 World Cup, due to which the Afghan team was successful in reaching the semi-finals.

Naveen Ul Haq returns to the team after a long time

Afghanistan’s veteran player Mohammad Nabi has also been included in the team, who is going to turn 41 on January 1, 2026. Naveen Ul Haq and Gulbadin Naib have also returned to the team, which will make their bowling line-up even stronger. Naveen has not played any match for Afghanistan in the year 2025 and due to injury he could not even play the Asia Cup. Both of them had performed amazingly for the team in the last T20 World Cup.

Allah Ghazanfar included in reserve players

19 year old mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar has failed to make a place in the team. He has been included among the three reserve players. Apart from Allah, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia ur Rehman Sharifi have been kept among the reserve players. Before the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan team will play a series against West Indies. This series will be played in Sharjah from January 19 to 22, 2026.

Afghanistan team present in difficult group

Afghanistan team has been placed in Group D in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Teams from New Zealand, South Africa, UAE and Canada are present in it. Due to having two strong teams, it will not be easy for Afghanistan. Afghanistan will face New Zealand in its first match on 8 February in Chennai. After this, it will play against South Africa on 11th February at Narendra Modi Stadium.

Afghanistan squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Rashid Khan (captain), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Ishaq (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazal Haq Farooqui and Abdullah. Ahmedzai.