Afghanistan’s evolution in world cricket is gaining much momentum, with the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup marking yet another major event. The event, to be hosted in South Africa and Zimbabwe, are places where fast bowling reigns supreme and the conditions are made punishing for any unprepared opponent. Afghanistan, certainly unrestricted by the nature of the pitches, arrives with abundant spin firepower, explosive batting, and young pace talents.
Under the leadership of the reliable Hashmatullah Shahidi, this Afghan team is more balanced than ever, with the right mix of experienced campaigners and young athletes preparing themselves to conquer the world. Let us have a look at this team in its entirety and what each of its players brings to the table.
Afghanistan’s ODI World Cup 2027 Squad:
| S.No | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hashmatullah Shahidi | Captain, Batsman |
| 2 | Ibrahim Zadran | Batsman |
| 3 | Ikram Ali Khil | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| 4 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| 5 | Sediqullah Atal | Batsman |
| 6 | Rahmat Shah | Batsman |
| 7 | Azmatullah Omarzai | All-rounder (Medium Pace) |
| 8 | Gulbadin Naib | All-rounder (Medium Pace) |
| 9 | Mohammad Nabi | All-rounder (Off-spin) |
| 10 | Nangeyalia Kharote | Bowler (Spin) |
| 11 | Rashid Khan | Bowler (Leg-spin) |
| 12 | Fareed Ahmad | Bowler (Left-arm Medium) |
| 13 | Fazalhaq Farooqi | Bowler (Left-arm Fast) |
| 14 | Naveed Zadran | Bowler (Fast) |
| 15 | Noor Ahmad | Bowler (Left-arm Chinaman) |
| 16 | AM Ghazanfar | Bowler (Off-spin) |
Hashmatullah Shahidi
As captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi is the glue of Afghanistan’s batting. He’s cool under pressure and bats consistently which brings stability.
Ibrahim Zadran
Ibrahim Zadran is a stylish opener who has shown he can handle quality pace attacks. He can bat for long periods on fast pitches.
Ikram Ali Khil
Ikram Ali Khil is a young wicketkeeper-batsman with good skills. He backs up the main keeper and can fit in top or middle order when needed.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is an explosive top order batsman. He can take down bowlers in Powerplay with his aggressive hitting and set the tone early and fast.
Sediqullah Atal
Sediqullah Atal is new to international cricket. The hard-hitting left hander has a lot of potential and adds variety and aggression to Afghanistan’s batting.
Rahmat Shah
Rahmat Shah is one of the most experienced players in the team. He’s a middle order batsman who can hold the innings together or speed it up as per requirement.
Azmatullah Omarzai
Azmatullah Omarzai is an all-rounder who has improved quickly. He bowls fast medium and hits strongly in lower middle order.
Gulbadin Naib
Gulbadin Naib is a utility player with lots of experience. He’s a medium pacer and a tough lower order batsman who can fight for important runs.
Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi is the senior of the team and is still performing well. He’s calm, balanced and adds tactical awareness. His off-spin and sharp cricket brain will be important in winning games.
Nangeyalia Kharote
Nangeyalia Kharote is an up and coming spin option, adds depth to Afghanistan’s spin heavy attack. He’ll be rotated based on pitch conditions.
Rashid Khan is the star of Afghan cricket. His spin, experience in global leagues and hitting lower down the order makes him one of the most valuable player in the world.
Fareed AhmadFareed Ahmad
Fareed Ahmad is a left arm pacer who bowls with good control and varies his deliveries. He adds variety to the pace attack and is useful in the death overs.
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Fazalhaq Farooqi is a threat to any top order with the new ball. He swings the ball both ways and can bowl tight when it matters most.
Naveed Zadran
Naveed Zadran is a new fast bowler with a lot of potential. His extra bounce and pace can surprise opponents on South African pitches.
Noor Ahmad
Noor Ahmad is a chinaman bowler who spins the ball sharply and has subtle variations. He’s matured playing franchise cricket and will be key in the middle overs.
Abdul Malik (AM) Ghazanfar
Abdul Malik Ghazanfar is another spin option, adds depth and variety. He’s young but has been making an impression in domestic cricket and could be Afghanistan’s secret weapon.
This Afghanistan 2027 World Cup squad is probably the best any side has had. Experience has been balanced with youth and pacers with genuine spin bowling. This side is up for an occasion to contest other teams. The right attitude coupled with good cricketing performances can see Afghanistan pulling off a few shock-responses and may even go for a spot in the knock-outs.
