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Afghanistan U19 team (Source:@acb_190,x.com)
In a significant development, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially announced a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026.
The prestigious global tournament will be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia, starting from January 15, with the final scheduled for February 6. This will be the 16th edition of the Under-19 World Cup, and Afghanistan will be aiming to make a deep run in the competition.
The tournament itself will feature 24 matches in the group stage. The opening match of the competition will be played on January 15 between India and the United States in Bulawayo.
Australia will enter the tournament as the defending champions, having won the 2024 edition by defeating India in the final.
Afghanistan reveals 15-member squad for U19 World Cup
Mahboob Khan has been appointed as the captain of the Afghanistan Under-19 team for the tournament. He will lead a young and talented squad that has shown impressive performances in recent months.
Afghanistan qualified for the World Cup by winning the Asia Qualifier last year. The team secured qualification by finishing ahead of Nepal on net run rate.
The young Afghan team will begin their World Cup campaign on January 16 against South Africa in Windhoek, Namibia. Then the team will face West Indies on January 18, followed by Tanzania on January 21, with all their group-stage matches scheduled to be played in Windhoek.
In the batting department, Afghanistan will heavily rely on Uzairullah Niazai, who has been in decent form. During the tour of Bangladesh, Uzairullah scored 275 runs in four innings. He also impressed in the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025, where he scored 130 runs in three innings.
Other batters such as Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, and Aziz Mia Khil will add depth and balance to the batting lineup.
Afghanistan's strong bowling department
Afghanistan also has a strong bowling attack. Nooristani Ormazi will be a bowler to watch out for. The spin department will feature Ziatullah Shaheen, Hafieezullah Zadran, and Wahidullah Zadran.
Spin bowling has always been a major weapon for Afghanistan, and these young spinners will look to continue that tradition.
The squad also includes players like Khatir Stanikzai, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Rohullah Arab, and Hafieez Zadran, who provide balance and flexibility to the team.
Additionally, three players have been named as reserves for the tournament: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi, and Izat Noor. These players will be on standby in case of injuries or other requirements during the competition.
Afghanistan's group-stage fixtures at the U19 World Cup:
- January 16: Afghanistan vs South Africa, Windhoek
- January 18: Afghanistan vs West Indies, Windhoek
- January 21: Afghanistan vs Tanzania, Windhoek
Afghanistan squad for U19 World Cup: Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahid Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab, Hafieez Zadran
Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi, Izat Noor
