Afghanistan have announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, with a significant leadership change in the T20I format. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Thursday that opening batter Ibrahim Zadran will lead the national team in T20 Internationals. The announcement came alongside the unveiling of both the ODI and T20I squads for the limited-overs tour scheduled later this month.
The decision marks a new chapter for Afghanistan’s T20I setup, as Zadran replaces star leg-spinner Rashid Khan as captain. The move comes after Afghanistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where the team failed to progress to the Super Eights stage.
Ibrahim Zadran handed leadership role in T20Is
Afghanistan board has placed its faith in the young opener by elevating him to the captaincy role. Zadran previously served as the vice-captain of the T20I side and has been one of Afghanistan’s most dependable batters across formats in recent years.
ACB had reportedly been reviewing the team’s leadership structure following the T20 World Cup. With the Sri Lanka series approaching, the board decided to make the change official, handing the responsibility to Zadran while Rashid remains a key member of the squad.
The decision signals the board’s intention to build a fresh leadership structure while maintaining continuity within the team. Zadran’s calm temperament and consistent performances with the bat are believed to have played a key role in the board’s decision.
Several changes in squad composition
Along with the leadership change, Afghanistan have also made a few notable adjustments to their squad for the upcoming series. Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq have not been included in either the ODI or T20I squads despite being part of the team during the recent T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, several players have earned opportunities in the T20I setup. Top-order wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, and left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmad Malik have been included in the T20I squad.
Fareed Ahmad Malik has also made a return to the ODI squad, adding experience to Afghanistan’s pace department for the 50-over matches.
Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi receives maiden ODI call-up
One of the most notable selections is that of Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, who has earned his maiden call-up to Afghanistan’s ODI squad. Sharifi had featured in three of Afghanistan’s four matches during the T20 World Cup and impressed the team management with his performances.
His inclusion in the ODI squad reflects the selectors’ desire to gradually expand Afghanistan’s talent pool and give opportunities to emerging players on the international stage.
The white-ball series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will consist of three T20 Internationals followed by three One-Day Internationals. The T20I matches are scheduled to be played on March 13, March 15 and March 17, while the ODI series will take place on March 20, March 22 and March 25.
With a new captain at the helm in the shortest format and several fresh faces in the squad, the series could mark the beginning of a new phase for Afghanistan cricket.
Afghanistan squads for Sri Lanka series
T20I: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Noor Rahman (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
ODI: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Bilal Sami.
