Afghanistan have rolled the dice on youth for the big stage. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Darwish Rasooli named captain of a side packed with fresh faces and hungry domestic performers.
The afghanistan asian games squad 2026 blends exciting young talent with just enough experience to keep the ship steady. Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat bring the international know-how, while the rest of the group is built from the breakout stars of the recent Shpageeza Cricket League. With big names rested, Japan 2026 is a golden audition for the next generation of Afghanistan cricket.
Darwish Rasooli to Lead Afghanistan in Japan
Darwish Rasooli will lead Afghanistan into a tournament where the team will lean heavily on its younger players. The squad was picked after the 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League, and the selectors made it clear that domestic form would be the currency for selection.
Regular Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has not been selected, and established stars like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai have also been rested. The absence of the senior core hands the youngsters a rare chance to prove they belong at the international level.
Shpageeza Stars Earn Their Reward
The selection committee of the Afghanistan Cricket Board put serious weight on domestic performances, and the Shpageeza Cricket League has done the talking. Top-order batter Mohammad Akram forced his way in with 339 runs in eight innings, including two half-centuries and a century, and was one of the standout batters of the tournament.
All-rounder Ismat Alam was arguably the find of the domestic season. His 294 runs and nine wickets won him the best-player award of the Shpageeza Cricket League, and his two-dimensional game could make him a genuine asset in Japanese conditions. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq, Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal and Imran Mir have also been picked, giving Afghanistan a proper crop of youngsters to test.
Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat Bring the Experience
The squad is young, but not naive. Najibullah Zadran has been a familiar face in the Afghanistan middle order in limited-overs cricket for years, while Karim Janat offers seam-bowling all-round skills that balance any side.
Their presence gives Rasooli trusted lieutenants in the dressing room and on the field. In a tournament setting, where young players can freeze under scoreboard pressure, having two battle-hardened internationals around could be the difference between a brave exit and a medal run.
Full Afghanistan Asian Games Squad 2026
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Darwish Rasooli | Captain, batter |
| Mohammad Ishaq | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Mohammad Akram | Batter |
| Hassan Eisakhil | Batter |
| Khalid Taniwal | Batter |
| Imran Mir | Batter |
| Faisal Khan Shinozada | Batter |
| Najibullah Zadran | Batter |
| Farmanullah Safi | All-rounder |
| Ismat Alam | All-rounder |
| Karim Janat | All-rounder |
| Nangyal Kharoti | All-rounder |
| Arab Gul Momand | Bowler |
| Faridoon Dawoodzai | Bowler |
| Abdullah Ahmadzai | Bowler |
Why Rashid Khan and the Stars Are Missing
The biggest talking point around this squad is who is not in it. Rashid Khan, the face of Afghanistan cricket and one of the finest leg-spinners in the world, will not travel to Aichi-Nagoya. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai are also out, which strips the side of its usual firepower at the top and its most bankable match-winners.
The timing explains plenty. The Asian Games begin on September 24, days after Afghanistan complete a three-match T20I series against India in Delhi, and the senior players are being managed through a packed calendar. For the full picture of that series, read our guide to the Afghanistan-India T20I schedule. This is a deliberate investment in depth, not an accident.
Afghanistan Asian Games 2026: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
| Tournament | 2026 Asian Games cricket |
| Host city | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan |
| Dates | September 24 to October 3, 2026 |
| Afghanistan captain | Darwish Rasooli |
| Squad size | 15 players |
| Experienced heads | Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat |
| Big names rested | Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai |
A Golden Audition for the Next Generation
Look beyond the medal table and this tournament is really about the pipeline. The Asian Games give Afghanistan a low-risk, high-reward stage to test whether Shpageeza form translates to international cricket. A strong week in Japan could fast-track two or three of these youngsters into the senior T20 setup.
Rasooli has the armband, the selectors have shown faith in domestic cricket, and the youngsters have nothing to lose. In South Asian cricket culture, tournaments like this are where unknown names become household ones. Do not be surprised if Japan 2026 produces the next Afghan star.
Afghanistan Asian Games Squad 2026 FAQs
Who is the captain of Afghanistan for the Asian Games 2026?
Darwish Rasooli will captain Afghanistan at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He leads a 15-member squad built largely around young domestic performers.
Why is Rashid Khan not in the Afghanistan Asian Games squad?
Rashid Khan has been rested along with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai. The Asian Games fall in a packed period right after the Afghanistan-India T20I series, and the board has chosen to test young players instead.
When and where is the Asian Games 2026 cricket tournament?
The cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games runs from September 24 to October 3, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Which domestic tournament fed players into the Afghanistan squad?
The 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League was the main selection ground. Mohammad Akram (339 runs) and Ismat Alam (294 runs, nine wickets, best-player award) earned call-ups on the back of standout campaigns.
How many players are in the Afghanistan Asian Games squad?
The squad has 15 players: eight batters including the wicketkeeper, four all-rounders and three specialist bowlers, led by captain Darwish Rasooli.
