Young Afghan spin sensation Allah Ghazanfar has been ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the IPL this year because of an injury, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced.
The 18-year-old sustained a fracture in the L4 vertebra during the recent tour of Zimbabwe, and will be sidelined for at least four months, the ACB said in a statement. Nangyal Kharoti, who was part of the reserves pool, has been included in the main squad. Afghanistan will begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 21 against South Africa.
🚨 INJURY UPDATE 🚨
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 12, 2025
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… pic.twitter.com/g0ALWe7HVe
Afghanistan’s revised squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Ghazanfar had an incredible start to his ODI career, picking up 21 wickets in the 11 ODIs he has played so far, at an average of 13.57. In 19 T20s, he has taken 30 wickets at an economy of 6.12.
Mumbai Indians will miss Allah Ghazanfar in IPL 2025
The teenager’s injury is also a huge blow for the Mumbai Indians, who had bought him for Rs 4.8 crore in the IPL 2025 auction.
He holds the record for multiple fifers in ODIs as a teenager – he did it against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
After the Zimbabwe series, Ghazanfar played three games for MI Emirates in the International League T20 (ILT20). He managed only one wicket, at an economy rate of 9.48.
Mitchell Starc withdraws, Steve Smith to lead Australia in Champions Trophy
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc withdrew from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, citing personal reasons.
The Aussies are already without their captain Pat Cummins, pacer Josh Hazlewood, and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh—all because of injuries—and Marcus Stoinis, who announced his retirement.
Veteran batter Steve Smith will be leading the side in Cummins's absence.
