Darwish Rasooli to lead Afghanistan at Asian Games 2026

Afghanistan have named a largely youthful squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with Darwish Rasooli named to lead a 15-member side that also features experienced campaigners Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat.

The squad was picked by the Afghanistan Cricket Board's National Selection Committee, with a majority of the players coming from the recently concluded 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League. Rashid Khan, the regular captain and other key players including Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai won't be part of the squad.

The Asian Games are scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 3. Afghanistan will host India in Delhi for a three-game T20I series in the week before that.

Meanwhile, top-order batter Mohammad Akram has earned his place after a prolific Shpageeza Cricket League campaign in which he scored 339 runs in eight innings, including a century and two fifties. All-rounder Ismat Alam has also been rewarded for his performances in the tournament, having finished with 294 runs and nine wickets that earned him the SCL's best player award.

Mohammad Ishaq, a wicketkeeper and batsman, Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, and Imran Mir are among the team's other young players, and Najibullah and Janat bring international experience.

Afghanistan Asian Games squad: Darwish Rasooli (c), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), 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, Abdullah Ahmadzai