16-year-old Farhan Zakhil to lead Afghanistan in U19 WC campaign

16-year-old opener Farhan Zakhil will lead Afghanistan's Under-19 set-up in the upcoming Under-19 World Cup to be held in South Africa in January and February next year. The side is boosted by another opener Ibrahim Zadran, with Test cricket experience.

Farhan has already played 13 first-class games and has three hundreds under his belt. He also led the side in the Under-19 Asia Cup and the recently-concluded one-day series versus India.

Zadran, who scored an impressive 87 in his Test debut against Bangladesh, is also in the squad who will form the fulcrum of the team with the likes of Farhan and allrounder Abi Mohammadi. Abi Mohammadi recently took four-wicket haul against India U19 in a one-day game.

Ishaq Mohammadi is named as the wicketkeeper. Noor Ahmad, the chinaman bowler, who bagged three scalps in the fifth and final one-day match of the series versus India Under-19, to script a famous win for Afghanistan, is also named in the side.

Pacer Samiullah Salarzai, Majeed Alam, Arif Khan, Islam Zazai and Ihsan Mandozai are in the reserve list for the tournament.

Afghanistan will take on the hosts for the World Cup South Africa on January 17 to mark the start of the tournament.

Squad: Farhan Zakhil (C), Sediq Atal, Rahmanullah Zadran, Ibrahim Zadran, Ishaq Mohammadi, Noor Ahmad, Shafiqullah Ghafari, Jamshid Mir Alikhil, Abdul Rahman, Abid Taniwal, Fazal Haq, Imran Mir, Zohaib Zamankhil, Asif Musazai and Abid Mohammadi.