Rasooli to lead Afghanistan in Aichi-Nagoya

Darwish Rasooli will captain Afghanistan’s youthful 15-member cricket squad at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, after being selected by the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee.

Most of the squad has emerged from the recently concluded 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League. Experienced international players Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat are included, while regular captain Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai will not feature.

The Asian Games will be held from September 24 to October 3. Afghanistan are also scheduled to host India in Delhi for a three-match T20I series during the week preceding the tournament.

Shpageeza performances rewarded

Top-order batter Mohammad Akram earned selection after a standout Shpageeza campaign in which he scored 339 runs in eight innings, including one century and two half-centuries. All-rounder Ismat Alam was also rewarded for his contribution of 294 runs and nine wickets, performances that saw him named the league’s best player.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq is among the other young players selected, alongside Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal and Imran Mir. The squad also includes Faisal Khan Shinozada, Farmanullah Safi, Nangyal Kharoti, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai and Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Afghanistan’s Asian Games squad

Darwish Rasooli (captain), Mohammad Ishaq (wicketkeeper), 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.