Major Setback for Afghanistan: Naveen-ul-Haq Ruled Out Ahead of T20 World Cup

The Afghanistan team has taken a serious hit with less than a month left in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Due to injury, the team's most important fast bowler, Naveen-ul-Haq, will miss the entire tournament as well as the three-match T20 series against the West Indies. ESPNcricinfo reports that Naveen will undergo surgery later this month, while the precise severity of the injury is still unknown.

This is Naveen's second serious injury. He had already been disqualified from the Asia Cup 2025 due to a shoulder issue. The last time Naveen represented Afghanistan was in December 2024. After that, he played for MI Emirates in SA20 2025, Major League Cricket (MLC), and ILT20, but he was unable to return to the international scene.

Naveen ul Haq to miss T20 World Cup 2026?

Naveen-ul-Haq is reportedly scheduled to have surgery later this month, which will essentially eliminate his prospects of playing in the World Cup. Although the precise form of his ailment has not been made public, it follows a pattern for the 26-year-old, whose previous international outings have been restricted because of fitness issues. Due to a shoulder injury, Naveen hasn't played for Afghanistan since December 2024. Since then, he has missed important international assignments, such as the 2025 Asia Cup.

Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out of Afghanistan's three-match T20I series against West Indies and the upcoming #T20WorldCup ❌

Naveen hasn't played for his country since December 2024 and is expected to undergo surgery later this month pic.twitter.com/DhyIft9YJB

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 15, 2026

Naveen's exclusion and replacement have not yet been formally acknowledged by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). However, the reserve players for the World Cup include mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar, batsman Ejaz Ahmadzai, and fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi. Because he is a pacer and the team needs to retain balance in its pace assault, experts predict that Zia Ur Rahman (Jia Ur Rahman) would most likely replace Naveen in the starting lineup.

Naveen-ul Afghanistan's bowling assault is seriously lacking due to Haq's absence. The pacer continues to be the team's top wicket-taking fast bowler in the format and has been one of their most dependable wicket-takers in Twenty20 Internationals. He has taken 67 wickets at an average of 18.73 in 48 Twenty20 Internationals. He took 13 wickets at an economy rate of just 6.00 at the 2024 T20 World Cup, helping Afghanistan make history by making it to the semi-finals for the first time. 

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