Mumbai Indians’ Afghanistan spin sensation Allah Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy and IPL 2025. (ACB)
Mumbai Indians’ Afghanistan spin sensation Allah Ghazanfar has been ruled out of action for up to four months, leaving the youngster out of the Champions Trophy tournament slated to begin next week in Pakistan.
Ghazanfar has been replaced by Nangyal Kharoti in Afghanistan’s 15-member squad for the tournament, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on Wednesday.
According to ACB, Ghazanfar has suffered a severe fracture that will need a recovery period of at least four months. “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 of Zimbabwe, and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period,” the ACB wrote in its statement.
The injury will also rule Ghazanfar out of the upcoming IPL 2025 season where he was due to represent five-time champions Mumbai Indians after having been picked up during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction last November.
Ghazanfar was the player of the match in the final against Sri Lanka A in the Emerging teams tournament last year when he had snapped up two wickets to help his team to win their maiden trophy. The 18-year-old Ghazanfar was a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad which went on to win the 2024 Indian Premier League, drafted in for the injured Mujeeb Ur Rahman but did not play a single game for the franchise.
Ghazanfar hit the jackpot when MI snapped him up for Rs 4.8 crore in the mega auction, placing him alongside Mitchell Santner among their front-line spinners for the forthcoming season.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
