Afghanistan name 15-man squad for Asian Games 2026 with Darwish Rasooli as captain
Afghanistan's cricket board announced a 15-player squad for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on August 17, 2026, appointing middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli as captain.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has set its sights on claiming a first-ever Asian Games gold after three silver medals since 2010, naming a group that mixes emerging talent and established names for the fourth edition that includes cricket. Several past Asian Games participants from Afghanistan include Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad and Karim Janat, while current international stars Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai have not previously played at the event.
Rasooli, the side's skipper, is described as a middle-order batter and has represented Afghanistan in two One-Day Internationals and 28 Twenty20 Internationals. The ACB and the selection committee have highlighted youth in their choices while retaining experienced options.
The 15-player squad announced reads: Darwish Rasooli (C), Ishaq Rahimi (WK), Hassan Easakhil, Mohammad Akram, Imran Mir, Khalid Taniwal, Faisal Shinazada, Najib Zadran, Farmanullah Safi, Karim Janat, Ismat Alam, Nangyal Kharoti, Arab Gul, Faridoon Dawoodzai and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Selectors drew heavily from domestic competitions, notably the Shpageeza Cricket League, a tournament referenced as a platform for young Afghan cricketers. The ACB's selections include fresh names such as Mohammad Akram alongside seasoned performers including Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat.
The squad's batting is expected to be anchored by Rasooli with contributions planned from Akram, Imran Mir and Hassan Easakhil, while Nangyal Kharoti and Abdullah Ahmadzai are among the recognised bowling options. With a gold medal in sight, Afghanistan, led by the young skipper, will look to exploit their lower-order firepower and aggressive spin bowling options.
Afghanistan will take this squad to the Asian Games cricket tournament in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which runs from 19 September to 4 October, as the ACB aims to convert previous silver medals into the nation's first gold at the event.
