Afghanistan's probable 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Before every T20 World Cup, there is always talk about how the mighty Afghanistan team will perform in the major world competition. In their perennial format of the game, the Asian giants can cause quite a few problems for the opposition. With the T20 World Cup being held in the United States of America and the West Indies, the slow surfaces on those grounds might be beneficial for the team. 

In last year’s ODI World Cup 2023 which was held in India, Afghanistan showed their capability against some of the best teams in the world. They were able to win four out of the nine games that they played in the tournament and made some huge upsets along the way. The side was close to beating the eventual world champions, Australia as well during the league stage of the competition. 

As the T20 World Cup approaches, the Afghanistan team would be hoping for yet another splendid tournament. The deadline to announce the final 15-man squad is also fast approaching and the team management has quite a few bold calls to make before that. Let’s take a look at the probable 15-man squad for Afghanistan for T20 World Cup 2024.

Here is Afghanistan’s probable 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024:

1. Rashid Khan (Captain)

There is absolutely no doubt that Rashid Khan will be leading the side in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The leg-spinner is amongst the best leg-spinners in the world. He is currently playing for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2024 and is one of the mainstays in the team currently. 

Along with racking up 8 wickets across nine games with an economy of 7.44, the leg-spinner has been contributing with the bat as well. He is also the vice-captain of the team and this experience will surely come in handy in the upcoming months. The national team supporters have put a lot of faith in the leg-spinner and are hoping he can deliver in the forthcoming tournament.

2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is one of the most destructive openers in the game. Once he gets the ideal start, he can turn the tide of the match with his attacking approach. Behind the stumps as well, he is also a reliable option but will mostly be used as a fielder in the outfield. 

The wicketkeeper-batter is currently with the Kolkata Knight Riders but is still yet to start a game for the franchise this season. With the imminent arrival of Phil Salt, chances have been scarce for him. Regardless, he is still one of the best white-ball openers for the country and would be opening the batting in the T20 World Cup 2024.

3. Ibrahim Zadran 

Ibrahim Zadran might be named the vice-captain of the squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. When Rashid Khan was sidelined with injury, the opener led the team in his absence and did a remarkable job.

With the bat, the opener has been in decent form but his strike rate does come into question sometimes. If he can bat with aggressive intent and not give away his wicket cheaply, he can have a great campaign for the Afghanistan side.

4. Mohammed Nabi

Mohammed Nabi is the player with the most experience in this new generation of superstars for the Afghanistan national team. He has been playing cricket in almost every T20 League possible and that experience has come in handy in the growth of the Afghanistan cricket team as well.

The all-rounder can contribute to the ball and can be a handy finisher for the side when required. On slow surfaces, his spin bowling can be crucial in deceiving the batters. He will be one of the most crucial players for the side in the upcoming tournament.

5. Noor Ahmed

The young left-arm off-spinner has been in great form lately and will be hoping to continue this good run of form for Afghanistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. He will be the second-choice spinner in the team and on pitches that help spinners, he can turn out to be the match-winner for his side.

The off-spinner has been in splendid form for the Gujarat Titans and along with Rashid Khan, he forms the spin team for the franchise in the Indian Premier League. If he has the right rhythm, he can wreck the opposition bowling with his amazing variations.

Also Read: India's probable 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2024

6. Gulbadin Naib 

Gulbadin Naib has made an amazing comeback to the team with great form and has been contributing well with both bat and ball. The former captain scored a fifty against India earlier this year and was also scalping wickets at crucial stages for his side.

This good run of form has also brought him an IPL contract recently as he joined the Delhi Capitals yesterday. He is flexible in batting and can bat anywhere and according to what the team requires. His medium pace can be significant in sluggish surfaces and his variations can cause trouble for the opposition batters as well.

7. Naveen-ul-Haq

The Afghanistan team is known for its spin resources but over the past few years, some bright young prospects have come up in the pace department as well. Naveen-ul-Haq is the leader of the pack as his unique action combined with pace tends to trouble the opposition batters a lot.

Since 2022, he has been a key part of the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League and has also used that experience in international matches more often than not. He would be hoping to have a great T20 World Cup this time around in the United States of America and the West Indies.

8. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Fazalhaq Farooqi is also another name that has been rising from Afghanistan. The left-arm fast bowler had a great ODI World Cup 2023 as he scalped six wickets in six matches. Since then, he has been scalping wickets in the powerplay and at the death for his side in limited-overs cricket.

The Afghanistan team are reliant on his good form and would be hoping he can chip away with a few wickets to give his side the early momentum. The pacer is currently with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and is yet to play a game for the franchise.

9. Karim Janat

Karim Janat has been a valuable addition to the side. He contributes effectively well in both batting and bowling and along with that he is also a reliable fielder. His amazing cameos have been significant for the side before and will play a major part in the scheme of things this time around.

If early wickets fall, he can be promoted up the order to stabilize the innings and can time the ball when at the back end of the innings. His medium-pace bowling can come in handy during the T20 World Cup as the slow surfaces might benefit his style.

10. Mohammad Ishaque

Mohammad Ishaque has proved to be the noteworthy keeper for the side off late in the absence of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. With his brilliant skill with the bat and handy glove work behind the stumps, he might just get the edge over Ikram Alikhil in the squad. 

The wicketkeeper-batter was a great find for the side and he proved that during the last T20I series against Ireland. He notched up some crucial runs during that series and made meaningful contributions whenever required.

Also Read: Australia's probable 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2024

11. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman was once touted as one of the best spinners from Afghanistan alongside Rashid Khan. Even though he has not been able to reach his true potential, the off-spinner has been clinical for the national team as well as for his franchises all around the world. 

He bowled some great spells during the tour to India earlier this year and his variations can come out to be significant for the team in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The bowler can also contribute significantly with the bat as he has great power-hitting ability.

12. Azmatullah Omarzai

Azmatullah Omarzai has been a revelation for the Afghanistan team and his stunning form last year in the ODI World Cup 2023, earned him an IPL contract as well. He knows how to play the situation well with the bat and can chip away with wickets with the ball as well.

His versatility is also a thing that everyone applauds as he can bat anywhere and can change the tide of the match with his power-hitting ability. In the bowling department, he prefers to bowl with the new ball and can scalp a few wickets during crucial stages of the game as well.

13. Fareed Malik

Fareed Malik has been impressive in the games that he has started for the Afghanistan side this year. He can be a great option to have as back-up in the squad or can even start for the side if the form of either of the two pacers drops significantly.

The pacer has been able to use his variations in the death overs and has the flexibility to take wickets in the powerplay as well for the side. With him in the squad, it would give a lot of options to the team management to tinker with the playing XI if needed.

14. Hazratullah Zazai

Hazratullah Zazai was in stunning form for Afghanistan in the past couple of series. He opened alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran on a few occasions and did impressively well.

He can also bat at number three or four if needed and will mostly start as an opener in the upcoming tournament. If he gets settled at the crease, the batter knows how to make the knock into a big one.

15. Najibullah Zadran

Najibullah Zadran has a very specific role in the team which is also bound to failure on a few occasions. His role in batting is to give the side the impetus at the back end of the batting with his power-hitting ability. He can also be promoted if needed to stabilize the innings after a quick loss of wicket.

The batter also is a part-time off-spinner which might come in handy if needed. However, with the number of all-rounders already in the team, it looks unlikely that the team management would want him to have a go with the ball.