Sport
Three Afghans among ICC’s ‘selection’ for ideal T20 World Cup 2024 team
Six players from World Cup winners India make the cut including skipper Rohit Sharma and Player of the Tournament Jasprit Bumrah.

Three Afghan cricket players have made the ICC’s T20 World Cup 2024 team of the tournament list.
This year’s selection panel, which was made up of commentators Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop and Kass Naidoo and ICC General Manager of Cricket Wasim Khan, announced their selection on Sunday, which included Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Six players from World Cup winners India make the cut including skipper Rohit Sharma and Player of the Tournament Jasprit Bumrah.
The team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 (in batting order) is:
Rohit Sharma (captain) – India
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper) – Afghanistan
Nicholas Pooran – West Indies
Suryakumar Yadav – India
Marcus Stoinis – Australia
Hardik Pandya – India
Axar Patel – India
Rashid Khan – Afghanistan
Jasprit Bumrah – India
Arshdeep Singha – India
Fazalhaq Farooqi – Afghanistan
Anrich Nortje – South Africa
Rohit Sharma will captain the team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after leading India to their second victory in the competition.
Sharma finished as the second top run-scorer in the competition, scoring 257 runs in eight innings. The pick of his performances came in the win over Australia, when he smashed 92, before adding 57 in the semi-final success against Australia.
He is joined at the top of the order by Afghanistan wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the only man to outscore the Indian opener.
Rahmanullah made 281 runs as Afghanistan progressed to the semi-finals for the first time in their history, making half-centuries in three matches. His 60 against Australia proved pivotal as Afghanistan progressed from the Super 8s.
In at No.3 is Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies wicket-keeper batter, who scored 228 runs at an average of 38, including a 53-ball 98 in victory over Afghanistan.
The second Indian player in the XI is Suryakumar Yadav, the hard-hitting batter rewarded for some crucial innings, notably in the semi-final against England, 47, and the Super 8s win over Afghanistan when he smashed 53 off just 28 balls.
At No.5 is the sole Australian in the team, with Marcus Stoinis included after a stellar tournament. Stoinis contributed with bat and ball, scoring his 169 runs at an average of over 40, and a strike rate in excess of 160. He also chipped in with 10 wickets across the tournament.
The next all-rounder comes from India, Hardik Pandya scoring 144 runs at an average of 48, while also picking up 11 wickets with the ball, and bowling the all-important final over to seal victory.
His teammate Axar Patel was similarly influential with bat and ball. The left-armer was promoted up the order in the final, scoring an invaluable 47, while his three for 23 helped secure victory over England in the semi-final.
Rashid Khan comes in at No.8, the Afghanistan all-rounder excelling in the Caribbean with 14 wickets at an average of 12.78 and an economy rate just over six.
He is followed by Jasprit Bumrah, the standout performer across the entire tournament. It was his spell that swung the final back India’s way, and he finished with 15 wickets at an average of just 8.26, with a remarkable economy rate of 4.17.
The final Indian player in the XI is Arshdeep Singh, who was outstanding in his second World Cup. His 17 wickets were the joint most of any player, including a crucial two for 20 in the final.
The only man to match Arshdeep’s wicket tally was Fazalhaq Farooqi, of Afghanistan, the final player in the XI. His four for 17 helped beat New Zealand in the group stages, as Afghanistan progressed ahead of the Black Caps.
Runners-up South Africa provide the 12th man in the team, with Anrich Nortje having been outstanding for the Proteas. He took 15 wickets at an average of 13.40 and an economy rate under six.
Related stories:
Kohli announces retirement from T20 cricket after India’s World Cup victory
‘It is just the beginning for us’, says Rashid Khan after T20 World Cup semi against South Africa
Sport
Sri Lanka A defeats Afghanistan A by 4 wickets in Abu Dhabi

Afghanistan A was defeated by Sri Lanka A with a margin of four wickets in the ongoing 50-over tri-nation cricket series.
The match was held on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan had previously lost one match against Ireland and another against Sri Lanka in this series.
Batting first, the Afghan team set a target of 229 runs after losing eight wickets.
In response, Sri Lanka A chased down the target, losing six wickets.
Sport
Afghanistan qualify for U19 Cricket World Cup 2026

Afghanistan’s U19 cricket team has officially qualified for the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026, following the final day washout in the Asia Qualifiers.
After securing three big wins in their first three games, today’s match against Nepal U19s was washed out. Thanks to their superior Net Run Rate, Afghanistan U19s topped the table and book their berth in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026, which will take place early next year in Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Sport
Afghanistan U-19 cricket team defeats UAE

Afghanistan’s national under-19 cricket team defeated the United Arab Emirates by 180 runs on Wednesday, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the group stage at the ICC Men’s U19 CWC Asia Qualifiers.
In this match, Afghanistan scored 359 runs for the loss of only 4 wickets at the end of 50 overs.
This marks Afghanistan’s third consecutive victory in the regional group stage.
Previously, they had defeated Hong Kong and Oman by 8 wickets each.
Afghanistan is set to face the host nation, Nepal, on Saturday (April 19) in what will be their final group-stage match.
The winner of that game is likely to secure a spot in the 2026 ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.
-
Sport4 days ago
Afghanistan qualify for U19 Cricket World Cup 2026
-
Regional5 days ago
Deadliest US strike in Yemen kills 74 at oil terminal, Houthis say
-
World4 days ago
Thousands of protesters rally against Trump across US
-
World4 days ago
Iran, US end nuclear talks in Rome, agree to meet next week
-
Latest News3 days ago
Polio vaccination campaign launched in Afghanistan
-
International Sports3 days ago
IPL 2025: 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes youngest IPL player
-
Latest News2 days ago
China invites various Afghan delegations to attend Shanghai forums
-
International Sports1 day ago
IPL 2025: Robo-Dog ‘Champak’ explained