Injured AM Ghazanfar ruled out of Champions Trophy, IPL
What's the story
The Afghanistan cricket team suffered a major setback ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar has been ruled out with an injury.
The right-arm off-spinner was initially chosen as a replacement for fellow spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the 50-over tournament.
However, a fracture in his L4 vertebra has now ruled him out of action.
Here are further details.
Performance review
Ghazanfar's performance and injury details
Ghazanfar, who has claimed 21 wickets in 11 ODIs so far, played three games for MI Emirates in the UAE's ILT20 league after the Zimbabwe tour.
However, he didn't quite live up to the expectations, bowling 7.1 overs across those three games and taking just one wicket at an economy of 9.48.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that Ghazanfar injured himself during Afghanistan's recent Zimbabwe tour.
Recovery timeline
Ghazanfar's recovery period and replacement
The ACB said that Ghazanfar will be out for at least four months and will be treated during this period.
"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.
Meanwhile, in light of this, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote has been called up from the reserves to replace Ghazanfar in the main squad.
Stats
Kharoti's ODI and List A numbers at a glance
Across seven ODIs, the spinner has bagged 11 wickets at an average of 16.54.
He also boasts two four-wicket hauls while registering the best inning record of 4/26 (vs South Africa in 2024).
Meanwhile, in 34 List A matches, Kharoti has bagged 47 scalps at an average of 22.85. He also owns two four-wicket hauls.
Squad update
Kharote's return to Afghanistan's main squad
Kharote, a 20-year-old player who last played for Afghanistan in an ODI series against Bangladesh in Sharjah last year, has now got another opportunity to prove himself.
He had earlier impressed in Afghanistan's victory in the second game of that series, taking three wickets for 28 runs.
Despite Ghazanfar's absence, Afghanistan will still have four spinners in their squad for the Champions Trophy. These are Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi, and Kharote.
Squad
Afghanistan's spin-heavy squad for CT
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran and Nangyal Kharoti. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli and Bilal Sami.
Information
Ghazanfar to miss IPL 2025
This injury is a massive blow for Ghazanfar, who recently claimed his maiden IPL contract with five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) for ₹4.8 crore. He will now miss the impending tournament.