Khan to captain Afghanistan in World Cup qualifiers as Stanikzai suffers appendicitis

Rashid Khan, who currently tops both the one-day international and T20 bowling rankings from the ICC, is only 19 years old but he will have the responsibility of guiding his team through to next year's World Cup in England

^{Rashid Khan is set to captain Afghanistan with regular skipper Asghar Stanikzai in hospital with appendicitis}

Teenage sensation Rashid Khan will take temporary charge of the Afghanistan side at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe next month after regular skipper Asghar Stanikzai came down with appendicitis.

Khan, who currently tops both the one-day international and T20 bowling rankings from the ICC, is only 19 years old but he will have the responsibility of guiding his team through to next year's World Cup in England.

He will become the youngest ever captain of any side in Tests, ODIs or T20 internationals.

Stanikzai is due to undergo surgery in a Zimbabwean medical facility on Monday after pictures emerged on social media of the skipper lying in his hospital bed.

He could return midway through the competition, with Afghanistan having receiving advice from the doctors that Stanikzai requires at least 10 days away from the game.

^{Khan will become the youngest ever captain of a Test, ODI or T20I team}

However, Khan will be in charge for warm-up matches against West Indies and the Netherlands on February 27 and March 1.

Afghanistan's first game of the qualifying tournament is scheduled to take place in Bulawayo on March 4, with Scotland the opponents.

The legspinner has made a huge impact in the global game over the past 12 months. Sensational form in the Big Bash with Adelaide Strikers ensured he was retained by Surisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League contract, and a T20 Blast deal with Sussex Sharks followed.

He became the youngest-ever occupant of a No. 1 spot in ICC rankings when he hit the summit of the ODI bowling standings last week and on Monday it was revealed that his performances in the series victory over Zimbabwe had helped him to the top of the T20 ratings as well.

Khan sits on 759 ranking points, 59 ahead of second-placed Ish Sodhi of New Zealand. Samuel Badree of West Indies is third.

AFGHANISTAN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

March 4: Scotland (Bulawayo Athletic Club)

March 6: Zimbabwe (Queens Sports Club)

March 8: Hong Kong (Bulawayo Athletic Club)

March 10: Nepal (Bulawayo Athletic Club)

*Top three teams go into a Super Six stage with three teams from the other group in qualifying