Afghanistan’s young spinner Allah Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 18-year-old bowler from Paktia, who has claimed 21 wickets in 11 ODI matches, will not participate in the eight-team tournament in Pakistan due to a L4 vertebra fracture.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board made the official announcement on X platform on Wednesday morning.
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“Afghanistan’s young spin-bowling sensation, 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. He sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s recently held tour Zimbabwe, and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period. Nangyal Kharoti, who was part of the reserves pool, has been promoted to the main squad for the Champions Trophy. Additionally, Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s continues to miss the ODI action, until he has fully recovered.”
Ghazanfar, who began his ODI career for Afghanistan last year, picked up the injury during the team’s recent Zimbabwe tour. He will be out of action for at least four months.
The extended recovery period means he will also miss the 2025 IPL season for Mumbai Indians. The Mumbai franchise had acquired him for Rs 4.80 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy campaign begins on February 21 against South Africa at Karachi’s National Stadium.
They will then face England in their second Group B match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on February 26. Their final group stage match is scheduled against Australia at the same venue on February 28.
Afghanistan’s updated squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami
