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Naveen-ul-Haq Ruled Out of T20 WC 2026: A major setback has hit the Afghanistan cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Star fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out of the mega tournament due to injury. Naveen's absence is considered a significant blow to Afghanistan's bowling attack, especially given his experience in the death overs.
Naveen-ul-Haq's Injury Struggles and Recent Form
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Naveen-ul-Haq has been struggling with fitness issues for some time. A look at his recent career trajectory:
- Previous Performances: He participated in the SA20 and Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA in 2025.
- Shoulder Injury: He was also ruled out of the Asia Cup 2025 due to a serious shoulder injury.
- Recent Comeback: He made a brief comeback for MI Emirates in the ILT20, which were his most recent competitive matches, but he has now suffered another injury.
Rashid Khan Leaves SA20 for National Duty; Kieron Pollard Takes Over
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Amidst preparations for the T20 World Cup, another major update is that Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has returned home for the T20 series against West Indies.
- Rashid has left his team, MI Cape Town, midway through the SA20 2026 tournament.
- Experienced Kieron Pollard will take over the captaincy for the remainder of the season.
- Rashid had a balanced performance in the SA20, where he took 6 wickets and also made important contributions with the bat.
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Who will be Naveen-ul-Haq's replacement in T20 World Cup 2026?
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The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has not yet announced the official replacement for Naveen, but a list of reserve players is ready:
- AM Ghazanfar (mystery spinner)
- Ejaz Ahmadzai (seamer)
- Zia ur Rahman Sharifi (seamer)
Afghanistan is strengthening its preparations for the World Cup, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Mujeeb Ur Rahman has also returned for national duty to bolster the spin department.
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