KARACHI: Afghanistan’s right-arm fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out of the three-match T20I series against the West Indies and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, international media reported on Thursday.
According to a report by an international cricket news website, Naveen is scheduled to undergo surgery later this month and the nature of his injury is yet to be known.
Notably, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is yet to name Naveen’s replacement for the upcoming assignments, but their squad has three traveling reserves, AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, one of whom could be promoted to the final 15-man squad.
For the uninitiated, Afghanistan will host the West Indies in a three-match series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from January 19 to 22 before traveling to India for the 20-team mega event.
The previous edition’s semi-finalists will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against New Zealand in Chennai on February 8 before taking on South Africa in Ahmedabad two days later.
The Atlantans will then travel to New Delhi where they will lock horns with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 16, while their final group-stage match is scheduled against Canada on February 19 in Chennai.
Afghanistan Squad for 2026 T20 World Cup:
Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmed, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Siddullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Asmadullah Rehman Umarzai, Mujibrahim Umarzai, Mujibrahim Umarzai, Balance: AM Ghasanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia ur Rahman Sharifi.