Afghanistan announce squad for Asian Games 2026; Darwish Rasooli named captain
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Many top players are not included in the Asian Games squad.
With a month left until the prestigious Asian Games 2026, the Afghanistan have announced a 15-member squad for the tournament, scheduled to be played in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The Asian Games are scheduled to be held from 19 September to 4 October. The Afghanistan team features a balanced mix of promising young players and experienced international stars.
Darwish Rasooli, the middle-order batter, has been named as the skipper of the side. Rasooli has represented Afghanistan across two ODIs and 28 T20Is, emerging as a promising performer.
Heading into the fourth edition of the Asian Games, which includes cricket as an event, ACB is aiming to secure their first-ever gold in the tournament, after having won three silvers since 2010.
Some of Afghanistan’s most renowned cricketers have previously played in the Asian Games, including Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad and Karim Janat.
However, modern-day superstars like Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai have not played in the Asian Games.
Ahead of the multisport showpiece, the selection committee has once again prioritised fresh talents for the game of cricket. Subsequently, the ACB selected players from domestic tournaments like the Shpageeza Cricket League; this league was launched to provide a platform for many young Afghan cricketers.
The ACB went on to pick players from domestic tournaments like the Shpageeza Cricket League, which was started to provide a platform for several young Afghan cricketers.
The Asian Games will feature T20 matches, which often require physical fitness over world-cricket experience. While some fresh players like Mohammad Akram are the highlight of the team, the selectors have handpicked a few of Afghanistan’s most experienced players, including Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat.
Young captain Rasooli, alongside batters Akram, Imran Mir and Hassan Easakhil, will be the firm pillars of Afghanistan’s batting order. Nangyal Kharoti and Abdullah Ahmadzai are among the known names in their bowling department.
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 15-member squad for Asian Games
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, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Who will lead Afghanistan in the Asian Games 2026?
Darwish Rasooli, the middle-order batter, has been named as the skipper of the side.
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Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.