In a serious setback for Afghanistan, their rising spin star Allah Ghazanfar has been dominated out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 18-year-old has been a standout performer for the Afghan crew since making his ODI debut final 12 months. With 21 wickets in simply 11 ODIs, he was anticipated to play a vital position in Afghanistan’s marketing campaign within the prestigious eight-team match in Pakistan. Nonetheless, an unlucky harm sustained throughout Afghanistan’s latest tour of Zimbabwe has now sidelined him for no less than 4 months, forcing him to overlook each the Champions Trophy and the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
Allah Ghazanfar’s unlucky Harm and anticipated restoration timeline
Ghazanfar’s harm occurred throughout Afghanistan’s Zimbabwe tour, the place he suffered a fracture within the decrease again (L4 vertebra, particularly within the left pars interarticularis). Following medical evaluation, it has been confirmed that his restoration will take a minimal of 4 months, making it not possible for him to take part within the Champions Trophy, set to be performed in Pakistan in February-March 2025. He may also miss the IPL 2025, the place he was signed by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 4.80 crore within the mega public sale final 12 months. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) formally confirmed his harm standing via an announcement on Wednesday, February 12, by way of their social media accounts.
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Alternative for the ICC Champions Trophy
With Ghazanfar dominated out, Afghanistan has referred to as up Nangyal Kharoti, who was initially a part of the reserves pool, to the 15-member squad for the ICC match. Kharoti, a promising younger spinner, will now have a possibility to show himself on the worldwide stage as Afghanistan prepares for a troublesome Group B marketing campaign. In the meantime, Afghanistan will proceed to overlook the companies of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who stays unavailable for ODI choice till he has absolutely recovered from his harm. With Ghazanfar’s absence being a serious blow, Afghanistan will now depend on their skilled gamers and new additions to step up as they intention for a powerful exhibiting within the Champions Trophy 2025.
🚨 INJURY UPDATE 🚨
Afghanistan’s younger spin-bowling sensation, AM Ghazanfar, has been dominated out of the ICC Champions Trophy because of a fracture within the L4 vertebra, particularly within the left pars interarticularis. He sustained the harm throughout Afghanistan’s lately held tour… pic.twitter.com/g0ALWe7HVe
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 12, 2025
Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 marketing campaign schedule
Regardless of the setback, Afghanistan are gearing up for his or her third Champions Trophy look, set to start on February 21, 2025. They may kick off their group-stage matches towards South Africa at Nationwide Stadium in Karachi. Their second fixture will likely be towards England on February 26 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, adopted by a vital encounter towards Australia on February 28 on the identical venue. The crew will now should restructure their bowling assault within the absence of their younger spin sensation, with additional accountability more likely to fall on Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Kharoti.
