Naveen-ul-Haq is poised to return to Afghanistan’s side after almost two years out. The right-arm seamer last played for his country in December 2024 against Zimbabwe, before a stress fracture in his right shoulder kept him out of later T20Is and Afghanistan’s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign.
A hard recovery
Naveen had surgery in England and later needed a second operation to repair the labrum. He described the time away as lonely and difficult. He said the stress fracture itself healed in eight to ten weeks, but the labrum procedure extended the process.
He admitted watching Afghanistan play without him was especially hard, and that it made him think about valuing the game while he can play it.
Role in the T20I side
Naveen retired from ODI cricket in 2023 because of injury worries but remains important in the T20I set-up. At the 2024 T20 World Cup he took 13 wickets at an average of 12.30 and an economy rate of 6.00.
New captain, India series
His comeback coincides with Ibrahim Zadran becoming full-time T20I captain, and the India series is Zadran’s first assignment in that role. The three T20Is will be at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17.
Naveen believes the squad has a strong core of players who came through the Under-19 system together and have gained experience in franchise leagues around the world.
