The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA in June. The squad, led by star all-rounder Rashid Khan, features eight players currently participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Afghanistan backs IPL performers for the T20 WC
The IPL contingent for Afghanistan includes Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Gulbadin Naib. These players bring a wealth of experience and exposure from the IPL.
Rashid Khan, the captain, is a renowned leg-spinner and a handy lower-order batsman. His leadership and all-round skills will be crucial for Afghanistan’s campaign. Mohammad Nabi, another seasoned all-rounder, brings balance to the team with his off-spin and middle-order batting.
The squad also includes promising talents like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai. Gurbaz, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has shown his prowess in the top order, while Omarzai is known for his hard-hitting abilities and medium-pace bowling.
However, the squad announcement also brought some surprises. Hashmatullah Shahidi, who captained Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup, has been left out. The squad has only four specialist batters, but six all-rounders have been named to compensate.
The spin department features Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Noor Ahmad, alongside Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. In the pace department, right-arm fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq and left-armers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad have been enlisted.
🚨 SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT!🚨
Here’s AfghanAtalan’s Squad for the ICC Men's T20I World Cup 2024. 🤩#AfghanAtalan | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/M7oTF8ZPaa
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) April 30, 2024
Afghanistan, placed in Group C of the 20-team tournament, will face New Zealand, co-hosts West Indies, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea. Their opening match is scheduled against Uganda on June 3.
The inclusion of eight IPL players in the Afghanistan T20 World Cup squad highlights the growing influence of the IPL in global cricket. It also reflects the strides Afghanistan cricket has made on the international stage. As the countdown to the T20 World Cup begins, all eyes will be on these IPL stars to shine for Afghanistan.
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