Afghanistan Loses Key Bowler Naveen-ul-Haq Ahead of T20 World Cup

January 16, 2026: Afghanistan’s preparations for a busy T20 calendar have been disrupted by the loss of fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who has been ruled out of both the upcoming three-match T20I series against West Indies and the men’s T20 World Cup starting next month. According to reports, Naveen is scheduled to undergo surgery later this month, although the Afghanistan Cricket Board has not disclosed the nature of the injury or named a replacement.

This setback comes during a difficult period for Naveen, who last represented Afghanistan in December 2024. Since then, he has played in franchise leagues, including the SA20 in early 2025 and Major League Cricket in the United States. He missed the Asia Cup 2025 due to a shoulder injury and later returned to competitive cricket at the ILT20, playing for MI Emirates, which marked his most recent appearances.

Afghanistan had already named reserves for the T20 World Cup squad, including mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar and seam bowlers Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, though it is still unclear if any of them will replace Naveen.

Afghanistan Loses Key Bowler Ahead of T20 World Cup

Naveen-ul-Haq last represented Afghanistan in December 2024. Since then, he has played in franchise leagues such as the SA20 2025 and Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA but missed the Asia Cup 2025 due to a shoulder injury. His most recent competitive appearances came in the ILT20, where he played for MI Emirates. The exact nature of his current injury has not been disclosed, but it is understood to be serious enough to require surgery.

Impact on Afghanistan’s T20 Campaign

Naveen’s absence is a massive blow to Afghanistan, especially considering the conditions in India and Sri Lanka. Known for his slower balls, cutters, and yorkers, Naveen is exceptionally effective on subcontinental pitches that offer grip and variable bounce. His ability to take pace off the ball and deceive batters at the death makes him one of Afghanistan’s most reliable bowlers in pressure situations.

Rashid Khan Leaves SA20 to Join National Duty

Meanwhile, Rashid Khan has left MI Cape Town in the SA20 2026 to captain Afghanistan in the T20Is against West Indies. Kieron Pollard will replace him for the rest of the season. Defending champions MICT are currently at the bottom of the table with only two wins and five defeats in eight outings. Even Mujeeb Ur Rahman has left Paarl Royals to join national duty.

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FAQ Section:

Why is Naveen-ul-Haq out of the T20 World Cup?
Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out due to an injury that requires surgery later this month.

When did Naveen-ul-Haq last play for Afghanistan?
He last represented Afghanistan in December 2024.

Which leagues did Naveen-ul-Haq play in recently?
He featured in SA20 2025, Major League Cricket (USA), and ILT20 for MI Emirates.

Who is captaining Afghanistan in the West Indies T20I series?
Rashid Khan will captain Afghanistan after leaving SA20 2026.