Naveen-ul-Haq has been named in Afghanistan’s T20I squad for the three-match series against India, marking his return to international cricket after an absence of almost two years. The right-arm pacer last represented Afghanistan in December 2024 against Zimbabwe before a stress fracture in his right shoulder ended his season.
The injury forced Naveen out of Afghanistan‘s T20I series against West Indies and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He subsequently underwent surgery in England, first for the stress fracture and then a second procedure. The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed his inclusion in the squad announced on August 24, 2026. Naveen-ul-Haq described the rehabilitation period as an isolating experience.
“It is lonely. It’s a very tough time for a person, The stress fracture healed itself within eight to ten weeks. But I had a second surgery for labrum repair,” Naveen said, as quoted by the ICC.
What did Naveen-ul-Haq’s recovery involve?
Naveen’s rehabilitation took place in the United Kingdom and placed significant physical restrictions on him during the early weeks. The stress fracture in his right shoulder required careful management before the second surgery for labrum repair could be completed. The extended time away from the game also gave Naveen perspective on his career. Watching Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign from the sidelines was difficult for him.
“For the first six weeks of rehab in the UK, I had to sit while sleeping. We have to play as much cricket as we can, but one day, it’s all going to end. Everyone has to leave, and we’re going to miss it as a cricketer. We have to play, get on the ground, feel the pressure. I had the feeling that if I was there for the team, maybe I could have done something different in the death overs,” Naveen said.
Naveen had retired from ODIs in 2023 citing injury concerns, making his T20I availability all the more significant for Afghanistan. He had made his ODI debut for Afghanistan on September 25, 2016 against Bangladesh at the age of 17. His most recent standout T20I performance came at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he claimed 13 wickets at an average of 12.30 and an economy rate of 6.00.
What does the India series look like for Afghanistan?
The three T20Is will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The first match is scheduled for September 13, 2026, the second for September 15, 2026 and the third for September 17, 2026. Ibrahim Zadran has been appointed Afghanistan’s full-time T20I captain for the first time, with the India series serving as his debut assignment in that role. Naveen highlighted the depth of experience within the current Afghanistan setup.
“In this generation, you will see nine or ten players who have been playing for Afghanistan since the Under-19s together, since 2018. Those players are now in the national team, playing franchise cricket all over,” Naveen said.
