New Zealand national cricket team have named a spin-heavy 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, with all-rounder Mitchell Santner continuing as captain.

The selection reflects New Zealand’s clear focus on sub-continent conditions. Three of their four group matches will be played at the spin-friendly MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, a venue well known to Santner and several squad members through their IPL experience. The conditions are expected to favour slow bowlers, and the Black Caps have responded by stacking their line-up with spin and spin-bowling all-rounders.

Santner-led side combines spin variety with strong pace and flexible batting

Santner will be supported in the spin department by Ish Sodhi, New Zealand’s second-highest T20I wicket-taker, along with all-round options Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra. The depth in spin also allows flexibility in team combinations depending on surfaces in India and Sri Lanka.

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Despite the spin focus, head coach Rob Walter has ensured a strong pace unit. ICC’s second-ranked T20I bowler Jacob Duffy will play his first World Cup, alongside experienced quicks Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne. Kyle Jamieson travels as a pace-bowling reserve.

The batting group blends power and adaptability, with Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman and Tim Seifert providing multiple options across the order.

Five players, including Santner, are currently nursing injuries, but New Zealand Cricket has confirmed all are on track to be fit. New Zealand open their campaign against Afghanistan on February 8 in Chennai, confident that experience and conditions-specific planning can push them deep into the tournament.

New Zealand squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Mitchell Santner (capt), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
Traveling reserve: Kyle Jamieson

Nepal have officially announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, signalling both continuity and quiet confidence as they prepare for cricket’s biggest stage. The selection reflects Nepal’s steady rise in international cricket, blending proven performers with emerging talent that has powered their recent progress.

At the centre of the squad is Rohit Paudel, who will continue as captain. At just 23, Rohit has grown into one of Nepal’s most composed batters, admired for his temperament and tactical awareness. His leadership during high-pressure moments has been a defining factor in Nepal’s evolution, and the team management has once again placed its trust in his calm authority.

Balanced squad, settled leadership and smart selections shape Nepal’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign

Supporting him is Dipendra Singh Airee, named vice-captain. Dipendra’s value to the side goes far beyond numbers. His ability to influence games with both bat and ball gives Nepal crucial flexibility, especially in the fast-paced demands of T20 cricket. Together, Rohit and Dipendra form a leadership pair that balances composure with impact.

Nepal’s bowling attack will once again lean heavily on Sandeep Lamichhane, whose experience and wicket-taking ability remain vital against top-quality opposition. Around him, a strong supporting cast of seamers and spin options ensures Nepal have the tools to adapt to different conditions across India and Sri Lanka.

The squad features two changes from the Qualifiers group. Sher Malla and Basir Ahamad have been included, replacing Kushal Malla and Aadil Alam. These adjustments point to a desire for better balance and depth, particularly in the middle order and bowling combinations.

Overall, Nepal’s selection underlines stability rather than experimentation. With a settled leadership group and a well-rounded mix of skills, Nepal will be eager to make a strong impression and continue their upward trajectory on the global stage.

Nepal squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam

Sri Lanka Cricket has officially announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6. The tournament represents a crucial stage for young cricketers to announce themselves on the global platform and build pathways into senior international cricket.

Royal College, Colombo batter Vimath Dinsara has been entrusted with the captaincy, while Kavija Gamage of Kingswood College will serve as vice-captain. The leadership pairing underlines Sri Lanka Cricket’s emphasis on composure, tactical awareness, and youth-driven responsibility at the age-group level.

The selected squad brings together players from leading schools across the island, forming a well-rounded unit with balance across departments. Promising batters such as Dinsara, Gamage, and Dimantha Mahavithana provide solidity at the top, while versatile all-rounders like Viran Chamuditha and Chamika Heentigala add depth and flexibility. The bowling group offers variety in pace and spin, an important factor given the diverse conditions expected in southern Africa.

Sri Lanka eye strong start in tough Group A as young Lions target historic U19 World Cup breakthrough

Sri Lanka U19 are scheduled to depart for Namibia on January 1, allowing ample time for acclimatisation and focused preparation. Early arrival is expected to help the side adjust to pitches, climate, and playing conditions before competitive action begins.

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Placed in Group A, Sri Lanka will open their campaign against Japan on January 17 in Windhoek, followed by matches against Ireland on January 19 and defending champions Australia on January 23, all at the same venue. The group stage will test both skill and temperament, especially against strong opposition.

Sri Lanka reached the Super Six stage in the previous edition held in South Africa and will be eager to go further this time. With lessons learned from a mixed 2025 season and a fresh opportunity ahead, the young Lions will aim to push strongly toward their maiden Under-19 World Cup title.

Sri Lanka squad: Vimath Dinsara, Kavija Gamage, Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Dulnith Sigera, Chamika Heentigala, Adam Hilmy, Chamarindu Nethsara, Sethmika Seneviratne, Kugathas Mathulan, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, Jeewantha Sriram, Senuja Wekunagoda, Malintha Silva

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to announce India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in the first week of January 2026. According to a report by news agency PTI, the senior men’s selection committee will name the squad for both the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup on the same day.

A BCCI source quoted by PTI confirmed that the squad selected for the New Zealand T20Is will also serve as India’s final squad for the global event. This makes the upcoming home series against New Zealand India’s last international assignment before the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.

India’s World Cup campaign will begin on February 7 in Mumbai against the USA. The Men in Blue will then face Namibia on February 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, followed by a high-profile clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India’s final group-stage match will be against the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Suryakumar set to lead as uncertainty surrounds Shubman Gill’s place

Suryakumar Yadav is expected to continue as India’s T20I captain despite recent criticism over his batting form. While his run-scoring has dipped, his leadership record in the shortest format remains strong, making a change in captaincy highly unlikely so close to the tournament.

However, questions remain over the future of vice-captain Shubman Gill in T20Is. Gill, who leads India in Tests and ODIs, has struggled for consistency in the shortest format, and his place in the squad is reportedly under scrutiny. If selectors decide to move on, Yashasvi Jaiswal, part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad, could be a strong contender for his spot.

India will head into the 2026 T20 World Cup as defending champions, having lifted the title in 2024 with a memorable seven-run victory over South Africa in the final.

The BCCI on Wednesday announced India’s T20I squad for the upcoming five-match home series against South Africa, confirming a strong mix of established match-winners and promising young talents. Suryakumar Yadav continues as captain, underlining the selectors’ trust in his fearless batting approach and leadership suited to India’s evolving T20 philosophy.

Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain, subject to a final fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Gill, recovering from a neck spasm he suffered during the Test series against South Africa, has resumed light training, and the selectors are hopeful of his availability at least for the latter part of the series.

India pick explosive batting unit and versatile all-rounders for SA T20Is

The squad features an explosive batting core, with Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya offering both power and versatility. Hardik makes a notable return after recovering from a quadriceps injury that kept him out for two months. His commanding 77* off 42 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this week further strengthened his case.

India’s all-round options remain rich, with Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Pandya and Dube giving the team tactical flexibility across conditions. In the wicketkeeping department, the selectors have backed Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson, two contrasting yet impactful T20 finishers.

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The bowling attack has a balanced look. Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace unit, supported by left-armer Arshdeep Singh and rising quick Harshit Rana. The spin attack features Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, offering a blend of control, mystery and middle-overs wicket-taking ability.

India vs South Africa T20I Series Schedule

India enter the series as the No. 1 ranked T20I side, with South Africa placed fifth, setting the stage for a high-quality contest beginning December 9.

India T20I Squad

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
*Subject to fitness clearance from BCCI CoE.

The players’ auction of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 brought a thrilling and lively Sunday (November 30) where the six franchises fought hard among themselves to finalize their teams for the next season. The presence of 159 local and 267 foreign players created a scenario in the auction room where sharpshooting picks, unpredicted bids, and fierce rivalry for Category A players were the order of the day. 

From the Bangladeshi players, only Litton Das and Naim Sheikh were supposed to be the top players in the elite Category A. The foreign players were divided into five price categories, which varied from USD 35,000 to USD 10,000. At the end of the day, each franchise had a team that undoubtedly showcased its 2026 strategy.

Player Categories and Base Prices

For this edition, both local and overseas players were placed into six categories (A–F), each with fixed base prices and bidding increments.

Foreign players were scattered across all six categories, with only Category D going unsold entirely.

BPL 2026 Auction direct signings

• Sylhet Titans: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Amir.
• Rangpur Riders: Mustafizur Rahman, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Khawaja Nafay, Sufiyan Muqeem.
• Dhaka Capitals: Taskin Ahmed, Saif Hassan, Alex Hales, Usman Khan.
• Noakhali Express: Hasan Mahmud, Soumya Sarkar, Kusal Mendis, Johnson Charles.
• Chattogram Royals: Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Abrar Ahmed.
• Rajshahi Warriors: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan.

Full Squads of All Six Teams After BPL 2026 Auction

1. Sylhet Titans

Local: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon, Khaled Ahmed, Afif Hossain, Rony Talukdar, Zakir Hasan, Ruyel Miah, Ariful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Shohidul Islam, Rahatul Ferdous Javed, Tawfique Khan Tushar, Robiul Islam, Mominul Haque
Overseas: Saim Ayub (PAK), Mohammad Amir (PAK), Angelo Mathews (SL), Aaron Jones (USA)

2. Rangpur Riders

Local: Mustafizur Rahman, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Nahid Rana, Rakibul Hasan, Aliss Al Islam, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Nayeem Hasan, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Abdul Halim, Iftakhar Hossain Ifti, Mehedi Hasan Shohagh, Mahmudullah Riyad
Overseas: Khawaja Nafay (PAK), Sufiyan Muqeem (PAK), Emilio Gay (ENG), Md Akhlaq (PAK)

3. Dhaka Capitals

Local: Taskin Ahmed, Saif Hassan, Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Tofayel Ahmed, Irfan Sukkur, Abdullah Al Mamun, Maruf Mridha, Jayed Ullah, Moinul Islam
Overseas: Alex Hales (ENG), Usman Khan (PAK), Dasun Shanaka (SL), Zubairullah Akbari (AFG)

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4. Noakhali Express

Local: Hasan Mahmud, Soumya Sarkar, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Jaker Ali Anik, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Shykat Ali, Sabbir Hosan, Rahamutullah Ali
Overseas: Kusal Mendis (SL), Johnson Charles (WI), Ihsanullah Khan (PAK), Haider Ali (PAK)

5. Chattogram Royals

Local: Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Naim Sheikh, Shoriful Islam, Abu Hider Rony, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mahfijul Islam Robin, Sumon Khan, Ziaur Rahman, Arafat Sunny, Mukidul Islam, Shuvagata Hom, Salman Hossain, Zahiduzzaman Khan
Overseas: Abrar Ahmed (PAK), Niroshan Dickwella (SL), Angelo Perera (SL)

6. Rajshahi Warriors

Local: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Yasir Ali, Akbar Ali, Ripon Mondol, Jishan Alam, Hasan Murad, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, SM Meherob, Robiul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakhir H. Shuvro, Wasi Siddiquee, Md Rubel
Overseas: Mohammad Nawaz (PAK), Sahibzada Farhan (PAK), Dushan Hemantha (SL), Jahandad Khan (PAK)

How the Auction Landscape Shifted

Near the ramparts stood some of the strongest powerhouses in the market, such as the Dhaka Capitals and Chattogram Royals, who took the risk of relying on fresh and expensive overseas players to stay strong financially.

 In contrast, the Noakhali Express and the Rajshahi Warriors emphasized the need for a full team by employing a mix of young and veteran international players. Every team now holds a strong conviction for their preseason strategy since the BPL 2026 has already produced an edition of the most competitive tournaments ever.

BPL 2026 Auction unsold players

Shadman Islam, Nahidul Islam, Amite Hasan, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Fazle Mahmud, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Shafiqul Islam, Sohag Gazi, Aminul Islam Biplob, Anamul Haque Jr, Anisul Islam Emon, Asaduzzaman Payel, Imran Uzzaman, Abu Jayed, Naeem Islam, Pritom Kumar, Sajjadul Haque Ripon, Salahuddin Shakil, Taibur Rahman, Ashiqur Rahman Shibli, Mehedi Hasan, Ashraful Islam Rohan, Ahmed Sharif, Marshall Ayub, Abdul Mazid, Ahrar Amin, Aich Mollah, Asadullah Al Galib, Amit Majumder, Mahmudul Hasan Limon, Sabbir Hossain, Anamul Haque, Tanbir Hayder, Mehedi Maruf, Mohiuddin Tareq, Munim Shahriar, Nabil Samad, Ahmed Sadiqur Khan, Husna Habib, Ariful Islam, Azmir Ahmed, Khaled Hasan, Sohel Rana, Nayeem Islam Jr., Mehrab Hossain, Sakil Ahmed, Mohor Sheikh Antor, Myshukur Rahman, Naim Hossain, Naimur Rahman, Nayeem Ahmed, Rafsan Al, Rahatul Atik, Rayan Rafsan Rahman, Rubel Mia, Moin Khan, Shahriar Alam Mahim, Shakil Hossain, Shamim Mia, Arif Ahmed, Joyraz Sheikh, Anik Sarker, Liton Hosen, Sofor Ali, Ashraful Islam Siam, Rubel Hossain, Ali Md Walid, Al-Amin Jr, Nuhayel Sandeed, Hosen Ali, Samsul Islam Anik, Jahid Javed, Aamer Jamal, Piyush Chawla, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Charitha Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Dinesh Chandimal, Jake Ball, Salman Ali Agha, Sam Cook, Shan Masood, Wayne Parnell, Tom Hartley, Bas de Leede, Adam Lyth, Oliver Robinson, George Dockrell, George Munsey, Avishka Fernando, Shoaib Malik, Usama Mir, Mohammad Hasnain, Zaman Khan, Abdul Samad, Dominic Drakes, Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty, Najibullah Zadran, Milan Rathnayake, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Adam Rossington, Ravi Bopara, Saud Shakeel, Isuru Udana, Ali Khan, Harry Tector, Oshane Thomas, Scott Edwards, Richard Ngarava, Asif Ali, Sandeep Lamichhane, Akif Javed, Shahnawaz Dahani, Karima Gore, Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, Ryan Burl, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Greaves, Alick Athanaze, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bilawal Bhatti, Josh Little, Zafar Gohar, Joshua Da Silva, Amir Hamza, Joshua Davey, Lakshan Sandakan, Chadwick Walton, Kennar Lewis, Abdullah Shafique, Ashen Bandara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Munaweera, William Bosisto, Lahiru Milantha, James Fuller, Sean Williams, Adil Amin, Mark Watt, Ahmed Daniyal, Brad Evans, Brooke Guest, Hayden Walsh, Peter Hatzoglue, Matthew Humphreys, Dipendra Singh Airee, Muhammad Ali Dazy, Brian Bennett, Usman Qadir, Odean Smith, Dawlat Zadran.

Frequently Asked Question

Q: When was the BPL 2026 auction held?

The BPL 2026 auction took place on 30 November 2025 in Dhaka, finalizing the squads for all six franchises.

Q: How many teams are competing in BPL 2026?

A total of six teams will play in BPL 2026: Sylhet Titans, Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Capitals, Noakhali Express, Chattogram Royals, and Rajshahi Warriors.

Q: Who are some top overseas players signed for BPL 2026?

Key overseas stars include Alex Hales, Mohammad Amir, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Mendis, and Mohammad Nawaz, adding international flair to the tournament.

Q: What was new in this year’s BPL auction?

The auction format returned after several seasons, replacing the draft system. Teams bid strategically within a fixed purse to form balanced squads.

Q: When is the BPL 2026 expected to begin?

The Bangladesh Premier League 2026 is expected to start in January 2026, with the final likely scheduled for February 2026.

Anvay Dravid, son of former India captain Rahul Dravid, has been named captain and wicketkeeper of Karnataka’s Under-19 team for the upcoming Vinoo Mankad Trophy. The tournament is India’s top junior one-day competition and has helped many young players make their mark. Anvay’s promotion to captain shows how well he has performed in recent years at the junior level.

The 18-year-old has been one of Karnataka’s most talented young batters. He was the team’s highest run-scorer in the previous edition of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and has shown great maturity at a young age. His leadership appointment is seen as a reward for his reliability and ability to perform under pressure.

Anvay’s form in recent years has been nothing short of outstanding. In the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, he topped Karnataka’s run charts for the second straight season, scoring 459 runs in six matches at a brilliant average of 91.80, including two centuries and 46 boundaries. His calm and composed approach has made him a cornerstone of Karnataka’s youth structure.

Karnataka Squads for the New Season

The Karnataka Under-19 squad for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy includes Anvay Dravid (captain, wk), Nitish Arya, Adarsh D Urs, S Manikanth (vice-captain), Praneeth Shetty, Vasav Venkatesh, Akshath Prabhakar, C Vaibhav, Kuldeep Singh Purohit, Rathan BR, Vaibhav Sharma, KA Tejas, Atharv Malviya, Sunny Kanchi, and Rehan Mohammed (wk).

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Meanwhile, Karnataka’s senior team has announced its squad for the 2025 Ranji Trophy opener against Saurashtra. The big news is Karun Nair's return after playing a major role in Vidarbha's title-winning season last year. Mayank Agarwal will lead the team, with Kruthik Krishna, Shikhar Shetty, and Mohsin Khan coming into the team looking to make an impact as Karnataka look to start strong this coming season.

While there were some media reports of the Indian Test team announcement for the home series against West Indies on Wednesday (September 24), the new date has been revealed.

India and Bangladesh are taking on each other at Dubai in the Super Fours of the Asia Cup 2025, and the national selection committee is getting ready to announce the Indian Test squad for the upcoming home Test series against West Indies. India will host the two-match Test series, starting from October 2, which will be a part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship. 

India vs West Indies 2025/26 Test series: Complete Schedule

• 1st Test: 2-6 October - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
• 2nd Test: 10-14 October - Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

India vs West Indies 2025/26 Test series: Indian Test squad announcement likely on Thursday

According to the latest Times of India report, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to announce the 15-member Indian Test squad for the forthcoming home Test series against West Indies on Thursday (September 25). 

It will be India's first home Test series in the ongoing WTC cycle, while it will be their second Test series in this WTC cycle. India started this WTC cycle with the crucial five-match Test series against the hosts England, the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, which ended in a 2-2 draw. It was the first Test series for India under the leadership of Shubman Gill, and India performed really well in that series, fought really hard in that tight series, and saved the Test series brilliantly. 

After the home Test series against West Indies, India will also host South Africa in another Test series after touring Australia for a white-ball series. The India vs South Africa two-match Test series will run between November 14 and 26, and then they will take on each other in the three-match ODI series and five-match T20I series. 

While the Indian national cricket team is busy in the Asia Cup 2025, where they are dominating as the only unbeaten side, the selection committee is set to select the Test squad for the upcoming home Test series against West Indies, which will begin just after the end of the ongoing T20 Asia Cup. 

India will host a two-match Test series against the West Indies, which will begin on October 2. While Ahmedabad will host the first Test from October 2, Delhi will host the second Test from October 10. This Test series will be part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, as both teams will play their second Test series in this cycle.

See Also: Chanderpaul and Athanaze recalled as West Indies announce squad for India Tests

Indian Test team for West Indies series will be announced Wednesday

While the West Indies have already announced their Test squad and will hold a six-day camp, the senior men's national selection committee is ready to announce the Indian Test squad for the upcoming home Test series. According to the media reports, while India will be busy with their Super Fours match against Bangladesh on Wednesday (September 24), the Indian Test team will be announced on the same day. 

According to the Times of India report, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will hold the press conference in Dubai on Wednesday to announce the Test squad. The timing of the press conference will be learnt later. 

🚨 PRESS CONFERENCE IN UAE 🚨

- Indian Team test for West Indies series will be announced tomorrow followed by the Press conference. [Abhishek Tripathi] pic.twitter.com/FY6eferR9t

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 23, 2025

The key questions for India vs West Indies Test series

There are a few spots that have some questions. Will Karun Nair get more chances, while Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Devdutt Padikkal are fighting to earn spots? As the vice-captain Rishabh Pant is set to miss the home Test series, so who will be the vice-captain of the upcoming Test series. Will Jasprit Bumrah get a rest for the Test series, which can be helpful for him to manage the workload? As Ravichandran Ashwin retired, who will take the next generation spin-bowling duty? Will Kuldeep Yadav finally get a Test match opportunity?

The Afghanistan national team has named their ODI and T20I squads for the white-ball tour against Bangladesh in the UAE, and a few players that have been included are new faces and there have been players that were omitted from the squad.

Among the players unreleased from the squad are left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi, and the allrounders Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat. Farooqi has been replaced by Fyaz Ahmad, a tall left-arm seamer at 20 years of age and yet to play at the international level, regardless of having played 14 T20 matches with 12 wickets at a respectable economy rate of 9.06.

Another name added to the squad is the young top-order batter, nephew to the Afghanistan captain, Wafiullah Tarakhil, only available for the T20I squad. He had a strong run in the recent Shpageeza Cricket League, ending as the third highest run-scorer with 298 runs at an average of 37.25 and a strike rate of 155.20 over the course of nine innings.

Abdullah Ahmadzai has been added back into the T20I squad after being included as just a reserve in the Asia Cup and mystery spinner, AM Ghazanfar has been included in the ODI squad, with Rahmat Shah also among those listed as reserves for the T20I series, rather than the ODI series.

Rashid Khan's team relies on its spin depth and new players ahead of the Bangladesh white-ball series in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi 

In regard to the squad refresh, ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said "this refresh is part of Afghanistan preparations towards the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup," and that the team has "a busy season ahead with many T20Is planned." He acknowledged the disappointment of being ousted from the Asia Cup, but is optimistic that AfghanAtalan will "bounce back strong." 

Afghanistan's spin depth is a big asset. Even without Ghazanfar in the main T20I group, they have Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi available. They will have captain Hashmatullah Shahidi back to join Rashid, Nabi, Ghazanfar and Nangeyalia Kharote for the ODIs and in the conditions of Abu Dhabi, it could be effective to have Ghazanfar and Kharote available. 

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The tour begins with three T20Is in Sharjah on October 2, 3 and 5, then will follow with three ODIs in Abu Dhabi from October 8 to 14. This will complete the second part of a rescheduled all-format engagement between these two teams having Afghanistan won the ODI leg of the engagement in November 2024 by a score of 2-1.

Afghanistan suffered a narrow defeat against Bangladesh by eight runs in their last T20 International during the Asia Cup held in Abu Dhabi, and they will be keen to reverse that outcome this time.

Afghanistan T20I squad: Rashid Khan (capt), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohamamad Ishaq (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Rahmat Shah.

Afghanistan ODI squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi.

Reserves: Bilal Sami, Faridoon Dawoodzai.