The race for the T20 World Cup 2026 is intensifying, with the tournament set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. With just a month left for the tournament, Afghanistan has announced its 15-member squad. The Afghanistan Cricket Board selected this squad for the T20 World Cup along with the series against the West Indies on December 31, which will play a three-match T20 series in the UAE from January 19 to 22.
Cricket fans are expressing surprise as match-winner mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar has been excluded from the team. Allah Ghazanfar has taken 2 wickets in 5 T20 internationals, with a notable economy rate of 6 runs per over. He has taken 74 wickets in 60 T20 matches, yet he did not find a place in the team. The responsibility of the team is on Rashid Khan's shoulders, said ACB's chief selector Ahmad Shah Suleimankhil. It was not an easy decision to leave out Allah Ghazanfar, but Mujeeb Ur Rahman was given preference in his place.
Shahid Ullah Kamal, who has performed well in recent competitions, has been given an opportunity as a left-handed middle-order batsman, who can be crucial in major tournaments. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, right-arm fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq, young fast bowler Abdullah Ahmadzai, and Fazal Haq Farooqi have also been included in the team. This team is preparing strongly for the World Cup, increasing the excitement of cricket fans.