Taliban Leader meets Afghan team ahead of WC departure

Kabul: The Afghanistan national cricket team met Anas Haqqani, a significant leader of the Taliban ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

Anas Haqqani met with the Afghan players and prayed for their success in the tournament.

After a 10-day training session in the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan's cricket team embarked on their journey to India for the World Cup.

Prior to their departure, the Director General of the Afghanistan Cricket Board organized a meeting with the players, where Anas Haqqani, a key figure within the Taliban, was in attendance.

Photos shared on social media by the Afghanistan Cricket Board captured the moment when Anas Haqqani joined the Afghan players, offering special prayers for their triumph in the upcoming World Cup.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will be leading the 15-member Afghan squad in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The team consists of players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hasan, Rahmat Shah, Najeebullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Ali Khel, Azmatullah Umarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujibur Rahman, Noor Ahmed, Fazlul Haq Farooqui, Abdul Rehman, and Naveen-ul-Haq.

Additionally, Gulbuddin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, and Fareed Ahmed have been designated as reserve players.

The ICC ODI World Cup is scheduled to take place in India next month, commencing on October 5 in Ahmedabad.

Afghanistan's first match in the tournament is set for October 7 against Bangladesh, with a highly anticipated face-off against Pakistan on October 23.