Afghanistan Name Young Squad for 2026 Asian Games, Rashid Khan Rested

Afghanistan have announced a 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Darwish Rasooli named captain.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has opted for a young squad, while several senior players, including Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, have been rested for the tournament.

Rasooli will lead the side, with Mohammad Ishaq named as the wicketkeeper. The squad also includes experienced players Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat.

Mohammad Akram and Ismat Alam have earned their places after impressive performances in the Shpageeza Cricket League. Their inclusion gives the young squad some players in strong recent form.

The 15-member squad includes Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Imran Mir, Faisal Khan Shinozada, Najibullah Zadran, Farmanullah Safi, Ismat Alam, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai and Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Afghanistan will enter the Asian Games looking to improve on their silver-medal finish from the 2022 edition. Their final against India was washed out, with India awarded the gold medal based on their higher ICC ranking.

The 2026 Asian Games will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4. Afghanistan will hope the next generation of players can make a strong impact on the continental stage.