T20 World Cup: Afghanistan cricket team Preview - Asghar Stanikzai's men need to prove mettle in mega tournament

New Delhi: Afghanistan would be disappointed after they failed to make it through to the main stage of the Asia Cup 2016.

They were the favourites to become the fifth team in the continental tournament, but a shocking defeat against UAE in their first match proved to be a major setback to their plans.

But the team bounced back and advance to the main stage of the ICC World Twenty20, where they will take on Sri Lanka today.

In ICC World Cup 2015, they won hearts of several fans and experts and something similar would be expected from Asghar Stanikzai and his boys.

Mohammad Nabi led the team in the World Cup last year, and he remains to be a vital cog. Stanikzai will also have to be consistent with his performances in order to help his side put up a fight against big teams.

Shapoor Zadran and Hamid Hassan are two of their most established bowlers in the side, and even though they have missed out on plenty of international cricket in the last 12 months, Afghanistani think tank would want these two bowlers to get them regular breakthroughs.

Team details:

ICC T20I ranking: 9

Coach: Kabir Khan

Afghanistan ICC World Twenty20 2016 squad: Asghar Stanikzai (c), Noor Ali Zadran, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Usman Ghani, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Sadiq, Shafiqullah, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Hamid Hassan.

Players to watch out for: Asghar Stanikzai, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ali Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Hamid Hassan