In a massive body blow for Afghanistan, mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 event due to injury. The youngster who had replaced Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the squad for the global event has sustained a fracture in his L4 vertebra.
Mujeeb last turned out for Afghanistan during the Zimbabwe series. Although the finger-spinner took part in the SA20 League for Paarl Royals, the physios had ruled out Mujeeb bowling 10 overs during the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Ghazanfar was all set to play his first ICC event, however, now the mystery spinner has to wait for his chances.
"AM Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra, specifically in the left pars interarticularis." ACB said in a statement on Wednesday.
"He (Ghazanfar) sustained the injury during Afghanistan's recently held tour of Zimbabwe, and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period," it added.
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Aside from missing the CT Trophy, Ghazanfar is also ruled out of the IPL 2025 season. The mystery spinner bagged his maiden IPL contract with Mumbai Indians bagging him for INR 4.8 crores.
Nangeyalia Kharote replaces Ghazanfar in the Champions Trophy squad
Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote has now replaced Ghazanfar in the Champions Trophy squad. Originally, he was named as a traveling reserve. Along with Kharote, Afghanistan have named three more spinners Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi in the CT squad.
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote , Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik
