Afghanistan has announced a predominantly youthful 15-man squad for the 2026 Asian Games, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 24 to October 3. Darwish Rasooli has been appointed to lead the side, which includes seasoned international campaigners Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat to provide balance to the younger roster.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee finalized the squad by drawing heavily from the recently concluded 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League. Notably, the lineup will be without several prominent figures, including regular captain Rashid Khan, as well as key players Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai. This roster announcement comes just before Afghanistan hosts India in Delhi for a three-match T20I series scheduled for the week preceding the Asian Games.
Several rising stars earned their selection through standout performances in the Shpageeza Cricket League. Top-order batter Mohammad Akram secured his spot after an impressive campaign, tallying 339 runs across eight innings, a haul that included one century and two half-centuries. All-rounder Ismat Alam also earned a call-up after being named the tournament’s best player, having contributed 294 runs and nine wickets.
The full squad comprises captain Darwish Rasooli, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Imran Mir, Faisal Khan Shinozada, Najibullah Zadran, Farmanullah Safi, Ismat Alam, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai, and Abdullah Ahmadzai. These players will look to make their mark on the international stage during the tournament in Japan.
