Ibrahim Zadran has replaced Rashid Khan as captain of Afghanistan’s Twenty20 international team, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on Thursday as it named squads for an upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
Zadran, a top-order batter who previously served as vice-captain in T20 internationals, will take over leadership of the format after Rashid’s tenure, which included Afghanistan’s run to the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The board’s chief selector, Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, said the decision was part of a broader effort to reshape the team’s leadership as it prepares for upcoming global tournaments.
“Rashid Khan’s tenure as the T20I captain brought immense success to the team,” Sulimankhil said in a statement. “In alignment with our long-term strategic vision and recent changes in team management, we have made the decision to transition leadership within the T20I setup.”
He thanked Rashid for his contributions and said the board expected Zadran to lead the team into its next phase.
Afghanistan also made several changes to its squads for the series. Left-arm fast bowler Fazal Haq Farooqi, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq — all part of the 2026 T20 World Cup squad — were left out of both the T20 and one-day international teams.
Meanwhile, Noor Rahman, a top-order wicketkeeper-batter, along with spin-bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf and left-arm fast bowler Fareed Ahmad Malik, were included in the T20 squad. Fareed Ahmad Malik also returns to the one-day international lineup.
Fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi received his first call-up to the ODI squad, while Bilal Sami retained his place after a recent five-wicket performance in an ODI match.
In the ODI format, Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue as captain, with Rahmat Shah serving as vice-captain.
The cricket board said it is also monitoring the regional security situation as it prepares for the Sri Lanka series. Officials are consulting with stakeholders about whether the matches can proceed as planned in terms of both schedule and venue.
A final decision is expected in the coming days, though the board said its initial plan — in coordination with organizers and venue authorities — is to move forward with the originally scheduled fixtures.
