Afghanistan men's Under-19 vice-captain Faridullah Ihsas has named Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran as his biggest inspirations, saying he draws on their discipline and consistency as he looks to make his mark at the ongoing ACC Men's U-19 Asia Cup 2026 in Muscat, Oman. Speaking in an exclusive conversation facilitated by Sony Sports Network, Ihsas said the senior players embodied the values he is working to build into his own game.

The role models shaping Ihsas

'I admire Ibrahim Zadran for his consistency, dedication, and also Rashid Khan for his discipline, hard work, experience, and humanity. Ibrahim Zadran has shared his experiences with us. I haven't met Rashid Khan yet, but Inshallah, I will meet him soon,' Ihsas said. The Khost-born batter recalled that his love for cricket grew in tandem with Afghanistan's own rise as a cricketing nation. 'When our Afghanistan team was in a good situation and began improving as a unit every day, I began supporting them. I have watched and played cricket since childhood and I love cricket,' he added.

Leadership and responsibility

Describing the vice-captaincy as both an honour and a responsibility, Ihsas stressed his desire to be a pillar of support for captain Sohail Khan and the squad. 'Being named vice-captain is a great honour and responsibility for me. I want to support the captain and my teammates in every situation,' he said. Known for a technically sound and classical batting approach, Ihsas is regarded as one of Afghanistan's emerging batting prospects at the age-group level.

Emphatic opening win over Bangladesh

Afghanistan launched their Asia Cup campaign with a commanding 113-run victory over Bangladesh in their Group B fixture on Thursday, 6 November 2026. Posting 231 on the board, the Afghan bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for 118 in 25.5 overs. Amir Hamza (3-23), Noor Ali Niazai (3-29), and Samiullah Mubariz (3-11) shared nine wickets between them, while opener Shah Faisal Rahimi top-scored with 83 with the bat. Ihsas contributed 15 runs but was buoyant about the collective batting display. 'My batting performance was not that good, but our team performance with the bat was good. This is a good sign for us,' he acknowledged. He particularly highlighted the bowling effort: 'In the first 10 overs, they took five wickets. It was a good bowling performance.'

Acclimatisation and preparation

Afghanistan's preparation for the continental event has been unusually thorough. The side arrived in Oman well ahead of the tournament, playing bilateral series against both Bangladesh and Oman last month. 'We have adapted to the pitches, conditions, and the weather because we came to Oman last month,' Ihsas said. This depth of match practice gives Afghanistan a potentially significant edge over sides still adjusting to Omani conditions.

Coach Rais Ahmadzai and the World Cup road map

Ihsas spoke warmly of head coach Rais Ahmadzai, who has been associated with Afghanistan men's cricket for 13-14 years. Under his guidance, Afghanistan's Under-19 side has reached the semi-finals of both the 2024 and 2026 Men's Under-19 World Cups. The coach is now building the squad with the 2028 Men's Under-19 World Cup firmly in his sights. 'He is sharing his experiences with us. We are happy with Rais Ahmadzai as he is a good coach,' Ihsas said. With the opening win secured, Afghanistan's sights are now set squarely on the title — and Ihsas is clear about the ambition: 'Our goal is to win the title and Inshallah, we will get to win the trophy.'