T20 World Cup: Afghanistan odds, fixtures, key players, T20 World Cup record

Afghanistan impressed at last year's 50-over World Cup, claiming victories against England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and Rashid Khan's men are aiming to continue their rapid progress at the T20 World Cup in June.

Afghanistan T20 World Cup odds

To Win Outright - 33/1
Group Betting - 3/1

Afghanistan T20 World Cup fixtures

Afghanistan v Uganda, 01:30, Tuesday 4th June, Guyana National Stadium, Providence
New Zealand v Afghanistan, 00:30, Saturday 8th June, Guyana National Stadium, Providence
Afghanistan v Papua New Guinea, 01:30, Friday 14th June, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba
West Indies v Afghanistan, 01:30, Tuesday 18th June, Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet

Afghanistan captain

Rashid Khan

Afghanistan's greatest cricketer is back in charge of the national team and he will have a crucial role to play with bat and ball at the T20 World Cup.

Still only 25, ace leg-spinner Rashid reached 100 T20 international wickets in his 53rd match – one of the many records on his CV – and is already a legendary figure in T20 franchise leagues such as the IPL and the Big Bash.

His T20 international feats include an astonishing spell of 5-3 in two overs against Ireland in 2017 and an unbeaten 48 off 23 balls in a narrow defeat to Australia at the 2022 T20 World Cup.  

Afghanistan key players

Rahmanullah Gurbaz 

The 22-year-old vice-captain is a devastating opening batsman who was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2023 IPL season, scoring 81 off 39 balls against Gujarat Titans.

Gurbaz, who can also keep wicket, marked his ODI debut in January 2021 with an innings of 127 against Ireland and scored his first T20 international century against the UAE in December 2023.

Mohammad Nabi

The veteran all-rounder, an icon of Afghan cricket, is approaching his 40th birthday but remains a top-class T20 operator.

Nabi, a former captain of the national team, has made almost 300 international appearances as a canny off-spinner and hard-hitting middle-order batsman.

He has starred for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash, played for Mumbai Indians in this year's IPL, and smashed 59 off 38 balls in March's T20 win over Ireland after coming in with his side struggling at 14-4.

Naveen-ul-Haq

Another of Afghanistan's representatives in this season's IPL is fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who dismissed the dangerous Phil Salt, Andre Russell and Rinku Singh in Lucknow's recent clash with Kolkata.

The right-armer caught the eye with his T20 Blast performances for Leicestershire, claiming 50 wickets in 28 matches in 2021 and 2022, and he took 3-21 in the 2022 T20 World Cup thriller against Australia when David Warner and Steve Smith were among his victims.  

Afghanistan one to watch

Azmatullah Omarzai

Afghanistan's squad is packed with all-rounders and one of their most exciting prospects is 24-year-old Azmatullah Omarzai, who took 4-9 in his last T20 international against Ireland in March.

He dismissed Mumbai's Ishan Kishan with the fourth ball of his IPL career for Gujarat Titans and has batted as high as number three in T20 internationals, making a useful 29 against India in Mohali in January.

Afghanistan All-time T20 World Cup record

Year	Performance
2007	Did not qualify
2009	Did not qualify
2010	First group stage
2012	First group stage
2014	First group stage
2016	Super 10 stage
2021	Super 12 stage
2022	Super 12 stage

Afghanistan's T20 World Cup prospects

Afghanistan, coached by former England batsman Jonathan Trott, briefly threatened to make the semi-finals at the 2023 ODI World Cup and their squad is full of talented players with vast experience in T20 franchise leagues.

Captain Rashid, a true T20 superstar, is part of a formidable spin-bowling attack alongside Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Their batting depth and an exciting crop of young fast bowlers are also positives for the Afghans although they have a tough draw in Group C alongside New Zealand and World Cup co-hosts the West Indies, with only the top two teams qualifying for the Super 8 stage.

Greater consistency from the top-order batsmen will be needed if Afghanistan are to progress. They have racked up scores of 212-6 against India and 209-5 against Sri Lanka in T20s this year but have also been bowled out for 115 by the Lankans and 111 by Ireland.    

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time