Darwish Rasooli to Captain Young Afghanistan Squad at 2026 Asian Games
Top-order batsman Darwish Rasooli is set to lead a predominantly inexperienced Afghanistan cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 24 to October 3. The squad consists of 15 players, including six uncapped individuals, and five others who have made fewer than ten international appearances.
Alongside Rasooli, seasoned players Karim Janat and Najibullah Zadran will bring valuable experience to the team. In addition, Nangyal Kharote, the only other player with more than ten caps, is expected to spearhead the spin department.
The squad features a number of players who have made notable impacts in Afghanistan’s domestic T20 league, the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL). Mohammad Akram, who finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the previous SCL season, has received a call-up, as has Khalid Taniwal, recognized for maintaining the second-best strike rate in the competition.
Seam-bowling allrounder Ismat Alam, who has played two Tests for Afghanistan, has also been selected after being named Player-of-the-Tournament in the SCL for his performance of 294 runs at a strike rate of 168, along with taking nine wickets at an average of 16.77. Faisal Shinozada, who scored a century against India in the Under-19 World Cup semi-final in February, joins the squad, as does Hassan Eisakhil, the son of Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi.
Fast bowler Farmanullah, notable for being the leading wicket-taker with ten wickets in a recent one-day tri-series involving Sri Lanka A and India A, has also made the selected group. Complementing Kharote in the spin department will be legspinner Arab Gul Momand, while the pace lineup includes Farmanullah, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai, and allrounders Ismat Alam and Karim Janat.
The finalized Afghanistan squad for the 2026 Asian Games comprises: Darwish Rasooli (captain), Mohammad Ishaq (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Imran Mir, Faisal Shinozada, Najibullah Zadran, Farmanullah, Ismat Alam, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharote, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai, and Abdollah Ahmadzai.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
