Nabi named captain of Aghanistan's T20 World Cup squad

All-rounder Mohammad Nabi has been named as the Afghanistan's captain for the 2021 men's T20 World Cup  in UAE and Oman. It is Nabi's third stint as the captain of the national side after star leg-spinner Rashid Khan stepped down as the captain when the initial squad was announced in September.

Experienced players Shapoor Zadran and Qais Ahmad have been axed from the 15-player final squad announced on Sunday while Samiullah Shinwari, Dawlat Zadran and pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi have been named in the reserves.

 Left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmad also found a place in the final squad alongside promising spinner Naveen Ul Haq. Keeper-batter Mohammad Shahzad, who served a one-year ban for breaching ACB's code of conduct a year ago, also returned to the fold. Mohammad Shahzad, Afghanistan's swashbuckling keeper-batsman, has been brought back from the cold after his one-year ban for breaching ACB's code of conduct ended last August.

Afghanistan will begin their campaign in the Super 12 stage against the top qualifier from Group B on October 25. The clash will be followed by Pakistan, second qualifier from Group A, India and New Zealand.

Squad: Mohammad Nabi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq.

Reserve players: Sharafuddin Ashraf, Samiullah Shinwari, Dawlat Zadran, Fazalhaq Farooqi.