Afghanistan Announce Squad for India T20I Series; Naveen-ul-Haq Returns
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, scheduled for September 13-17 at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi. The series will be hosted by the ACB in Delhi, marking the first time Afghanistan will host India in a bilateral series.
Ibrahim Zadran to Lead
Ibrahim Zadran will captain Afghanistan in the series, marking his first assignment as the team's full-time T20I skipper, according to the ACB website. He takes over from Rashid Khan, who led the side previously. The announcement was confirmed across multiple reports, with the ACB officially naming the squad.
Naveen-ul-Haq Returns
Fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq returns to the national squad 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 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, as reported by several outlets. His return is seen as a significant boost to the pace attack, which also includes Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.
Hindustan Times highlighted that Naveen's comeback gives Afghanistan another proven option in the pace department, which could be particularly useful against India's deep batting line-up. The right-arm seamer will join the squad for training and final preparations ahead of the series.
Recall for Gulbadin Naib and Maiden Call-Up for Noor Rahman
The squad also sees the return of veteran all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, who adds depth to the middle order and provides another bowling option. His experience at the highest level could be valuable during a demanding series in India, as noted by Hindustan Times.
Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman earned his maiden call-up after impressing in domestic cricket. He has been part of Afghanistan's development pathway and has performed well at domestic and A-team level, according to ANI.
Spin Department and All-Round Options
Afghanistan's spin department is led by Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Nangyal Kharoti, with veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi adding further experience and balance. The inclusion of Mujeeb Ur Rahman strengthens the spin contingent, which is described as formidable.
The all-round department is bolstered by the presence of Mohammad Nabi, the former captain, who offers both experience and balance to a squad containing several established match-winners, as reported by Hindustan Times.
ACB CEO's Remarks
ACB Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan commented on the squad selection, expressing pride in hosting India for the first time. "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," Khan said, as quoted by the ACB website.
He added, "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."
Full Squad and Reserves
The full squad includes: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Noor Rahman (wicketkeeper), 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. The reserves are Ijaz Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal, and Fareed Ahmad Malik.
The team will travel to India ahead of the series for training and final preparations. This series marks the first-ever men's bilateral T20I series between Afghanistan and India, after the two teams previously played in a one-off Test and three ODIs earlier this year, with India coming out on top in those matches.