Afghanistan and the West Indies are set to play a three-match T20I series in the UAE ahead of the World Cup. Here are the squads and the team news for both sides.
Afghanistan and the West Indies will continue their T20 World Cup preparations with a three-match series, starting Monday (January 19), with the other two games to be played on January 21 and 22. All three T20Is will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and are scheduled to begin at 6.30pm local time (8pm IST, 2.30pm GMT).
AFG v WI T20Is: West Indies injury update
West Indies will miss some of their first-choice players for the Afghanistan series. Full-time T20I captain Shai Hope, along with Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein and Sherfane Rutherford, are currently playing in the 2025-26 SA20, while Jason Holder, Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd have been rested ahead of the World Cup.
Shamar Joseph and Evin Lewis have both returned to full fitness and named in the squad, while Alzarri Joseph remains under watch for a World Cup call-up but hasn’t been picked for the UAE tour. Opener Quentin Sampson has received a maiden international call-up after a stellar CPL 2025 campaign (241 runs in nine games at 151.57 SR).
Brandon King will lead the side in Chase’s absence. West Indies will travel to South Africa for another three-T20I series ahead of the World Cup.
AFG v WI T20Is: Afghanistan injury update
With the West Indies series being their last ahead of the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan named a combined squad for both assignments. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib returned to the squad for the first time since the 2025 Asia Cup, while Naveen-ul-Haq, earlier named in the squad, was ruled out due to a stress fracture in his right shoulder. Ziaur Rahman Sharifi was picked as his replacement.
Both Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have left their respective SA20 sides, MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals, to join the Afghanistan squad for the West Indies series and the World Cup. The likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi have also left the Bangladesh Premier League to join the national side.
AFG v WI T20Is Squads
West Indies: Brandon King (c), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer.
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Ibrahim Zadran (vc), Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman.
AFG v WI: Live score for 1st T20I
1st T20I, Afghanistan vs West Indies
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