West Indies tour of Afghanistan (2026)

[Ball Blazer]

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirms that it will host West Indies for a series of three T20I matches from January 19 to 22 in the United Arab Emirates.

The series will begin on January 19 in the UAE, with the second and third T20I matches being scheduled for January 21 and 22.

The series is expected to provide both teams with invaluable game time and will significantly contribute to the preparation of both teams for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is expected to be held in less than one month's time from the series.

Mr. Naseeb Khan, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, said: "Competing against the West Indies on the brink of a global event presents an excellent opportunity for our team to finalize their lineup and enhance their preparations for the upcoming mega event in India and Sri Lanka. We have been closely monitoring the team's preparation process, and facing a quality West Indies side offers an ideal platform for their buildup."

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said: “This series provides an ideal platform for our preparation. Facing strong opposition in subcontinental conditions will help us sharpen our combinations and approach, and it also gives our players a chance to build confidence on surfaces similar to those we’ll encounter in India and Sri Lanka.”

ACB to host West Indies for a three-match T20I series in January 2026

Kabul: November 7, 2025: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirms that it will host West Indies for a series of three T20I matches from January 19 to 22 in the United Arab Emirates.

acb.af

 

[BouncerGuy]

Cricket West Indies Announces Squad for T20 Series Against Afghanistan

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced its 16-member squad for the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan, scheduled to be played at the Dubai Cricket International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from January 19–22.

The series will serve as crucial preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled to begin on February 6, with the final squad for this highly anticipated competition to be announced ahead of the three-match T20I series against South Africa set for January 27–31.

T20 Captain Shai Hope, along with established players Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein and Sherfane Rutherford were unavailable for selection due to commitments in the ongoing SA20 tournament.

In Hope’s absence, Brandon King has been appointed captain. King has previously led the West Indies in T20 Internationals, including during the home series against South Africa in early 2024, and brings valuable leadership experience into this assignment.

Shamar Joseph and Evin Lewis are back in action for this series, with both players successfully clearing return-to-play protocols after recovering from injuries sustained in previous series.

Alzarri Joseph, who was also sidelined by injury towards the end of 2025, had been making encouraging progress in his return-to-play programme but has not been included at this stage as a precaution following medical review.

He will continue to be monitored and assessed to determine his eligibility and potential selection for the World Cup squad. Quentin Sampson, the Breakout Player of the 2025 Caribbean Premier League, has earned his maiden international call-up.

He replaces Rovman Powell, who has been rested for the series alongside Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd as part of workload management.

Head Coach, Daren Sammy, noted that in addition to being utilized as a fine-tuning opportunity ahead of the ICC World Cup, this series facilitates the reintegration of key players coming off significant periods of absence.

“The opportunity to play competitive matches in subcontinental conditions is ideal, as it assists with our preparations and confidence building ahead of what will be a competitive T20 World Cup."

"It also presents a valuable platform to assess players who would’ve missed significant time towards the end of 2025, as well as those stepping into important roles for this series, prior to the selection of the final squad for the international tournament.”

The squad will depart the Caribbean on January 14 and is scheduled to arrive in the UAE on January 16.

West Indies T20 Squad against Afghanistan

Brandon King (Captain)

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

Team Management Unit

Rawl Lewis - Team Manager

Daren Sammy - Head Coach

Floyd Reifer - Assistant Coach (Batting)

Ravi Rampaul - Assistant Coach (Bowling)

Rayon Griffith - Assistant Coach (Fielding)

Physiotherapist: Dr Denis Byam

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Darc Browne

Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne

Performance Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram

Content & Media Officer: Jerome Foster

Full Tour Schedule:

1st T20I: 19th January 2026 @ Dubai, UAE

2nd T20I: 21st January 2026 @ Dubai, UAE

3rd T20I: 22nd January 2026 @ Dubai, UAE

Cricket West Indies Announces Squad for T20 Series Against Afghanistan | Windies Cricket news

HIGHLIGHTSBrandon King leads the 16-member squad, with Shamar Joseph and Evin Lewis returning from injury.Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Akeal Hos...

www.windiescricket.com

 

[Devadwal]

Good practice for the last time World T20 semifinalist Afghanistan and two times champion westindies.

Afghanistan 136/2 in 16 overs

Rasooli 68(46)*
Ibrahim 60(40)*

 

[Cricket Warrior]

On Sunday, Afghanistan beat West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup in Windhoek. On Monday, the senior side followed suit, producing a similarly clinical performance against West Indies ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.

On a Dubai pitch that assisted the slower bowlers, Ibrahim Zadran's unbeaten 87 off 56 balls and Darwish Rasooli's 84 powered Afghanistan to an imposing 181 for 3. Zadran revealed at the innings break that the total was around 20 runs more than what the team had targeted after the powerplay.

The score proved more than sufficient as West Indies struggled for timing against Afghanistan's spin attack. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad shared six wickets between them, squeezing the chase and ensuring a comfortable 38-run victory.

 

[sweep_shot]

Great win from Afghanistan. They dominated.

I wouldn't be surprised if they win 3-0. UAE conditions suit Afghanistan.

 

[Hellion]

Windies were missing Shai Hope, Akeal, Sherfane, Roston, Romario, Holder and God knows who else.

At full strength, they are better than these AFG, BD type teams easily.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Innings Break (20 overs)

Afghanistan 189/4

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Can't believe that fraud Karim Janat was playing for so long. This lineup looks much better

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Can't believe that fraud Karim Janat was playing for so long. This lineup looks much better

I'm pretty sure the reason was Rashid Khan. I mean how does someone like him land a contract for MICT in the SA20?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I'm pretty sure the reason was Rashid Khan. I mean how does someone like him land a contract for MICT in the SA20?

Maybe true for SA20. But I think he has a lot of power in ACB anyway because of Asghar Stanikzai, his brother.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Maybe true for SA20. But I think he has a lot of power in ACB anyway because of Asghar Stanikzai, his brother.

Oh yeah lol. Nah, that makes much more sense.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

 

[sweep_shot]

Afghans have won the series. Well played.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Shamar Springer produced a sensational hat-trick in the penultimate over to help West Indies fight back and deny Afghanistan a T20I series sweep here on Thursday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Drafted in place of Shamar Joseph, Springer dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan and Shahidullah with clever variations in pace and length, making a strong case for a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.

Springer’s brilliant 19th over, which conceded just five runs, left Ramon Simmonds with 19 to defend in the final over. The left-arm quick sealed the win with a mix of yorkers and low full tosses that were difficult to hit.

West Indies had looked set for a tough chase after Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran added 59 runs in seven overs while chasing 152.

Afghanistan maintained control for most of the innings, guided by Gurbaz’s half-century, until Springer’s intervention changed the momentum.

With his hat-trick, Springer became the third West Indies player after Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd to achieve the feat in men’s T20Is, celebrating with his signature chest roll and overshadowing Rashid Khan, who had earlier bowled a tidy spell of 4-0-13-2.

Batting first, West Indies managed only 27 runs in the first four overs. Johnson Charles, promoted up the order in the absence of Alick Athanaze and Evin Lewis—who missed the game due to a neck injury—struggled to a run-a-ball 17 before being bowled by Shahidullah.

Stand-in captain Nicholas King hit Shahidullah and Mujeeb Ur Rahman for sixes in the powerplay but struggled against Rashid Khan, who dismissed King for 47 off 35 balls in the 15th over.

Rashid also bowled Shimron Hetmyer around his legs for 13 off six balls, maintaining his trademark spin variations. He is now six wickets away from reaching 700 T20 wickets.

Matthew Forde and Springer accelerated the innings, scoring 40 runs in the last three overs.

Forde hit Zaiur Rahman Sharifi for two sixes in his 27 off 11 balls, while Springer targeted Abdollah Ahmadzai for two fours in the 19th over, foreshadowing his decisive impact with the ball in Afghanistan’s innings.

Afghanistan’s chase started slowly, with Gurbaz managing just 17 off 19 balls in the powerplay. He found his rhythm in the seventh over, hitting three fours off Justin Greaves.

After Forde dismissed Ibrahim Zadran for 28 off 27 balls, Gurbaz brought up his fifty off 44 balls, narrowing Afghanistan’s equation to 58 runs needed from 36 balls with nine wickets in hand.

Springer sparked West Indies’ comeback by having Sediqullah Atal caught behind for 7 off 11 balls. Khary Pierre then trapped Darwish Rasooli lbw for 4 off six balls.

Gurbaz momentarily steadied the innings with successive fours off Pierre, but the situation tightened as Afghanistan required 25 off 12 balls.

Springer struck decisively: he first had Gurbaz caught at midwicket for 71 off 58 balls, followed by Rashid Khan, caught in the deep third.

He completed the hat-trick by yorking Shahidullah, leaving Afghanistan with too much to chase despite Mujeeb Rahman hitting the final ball for four.

This was Afghanistan’s final T20I before heading to India for the T20 World Cup, while West Indies will travel to South Africa for a three-match T20I series before arriving in Kolkata, the scene of their 2016 T20 World Cup triumph.

 

[sweep_shot]

Windies won the final match. Series ended 2-1 in Afghanistan's favor.

I think it is a fair result. Afghanistan are now better than Windies in white ball cricket.