Afghanistan’s national cricket star Rashid Khan has been appointed the captain for T20I matches, Afghanistan’s Cricket Board (ACB) announced in a statement on Tuesday. 

Najibullah Zadran was appointed the team’s vice-captain for the T20I. 

The statement said that Rashid, one of the well-known global faces of cricket, was selected by senior ACB leadership, led by ACB Chairman Farhan Yousefzai "considering his experience, brilliant performance as well as leadership skills with the National team over the years.” 

Afghanistan is placed in Group B for the T20 World Cup 2021 alongside England, India and South Africa while the remaining two teams will be chosen from the Qualifiers.  

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played this October in the UAE and Oman. 

Afghanistan will play a Test season against Australia ahead of the World Cup in November.  

If Australia and/or Afghanistan reach the final in the UAE on November 14 there would only be 12 days before the first ball of the Test on November 27 which is inside the mandatory 14-day period returning travelers have to quarantine for, according to an ESPN report. 

For Australia's Test players who are part of the T20 World Cup the Afghanistan match will be their only chance of red-ball preparation, it said.