Mumbai Indians star recruit, who was bought for Rs 4.8 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year, has been ruled out of both ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and IPL 2025 season due to injury.
In a major blow to Afghanistan cricket team and Mumbai Indians franchise, star cricketer Allah Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season next month as well. The 18-year-old spinner has made an amazing start in ODI cricket with 21 wickets in 11 matches at a phenomenal average of 13.57.
In T20 cricket as well, Ghazanfar has an average of 13.5 with 30 wickets in 19 matches. It was for this reason that five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians had bought Ghazanfar for Rs 4.8 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year.
“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,” a statement by Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said.
The teenage mystery spinner is said to have sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s tour of Zimbabwe. With Ghazanfar ruled out for four months, he will definitely not feature in the IPL 2025 season, which gets underway on March 23.
“Nangyal Kharoti, who was part of the reserves pool, has been promoted to the main squad for the Champions Trophy,” the ACB statement added.
🚨 INJURY UPDATE 🚨
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 Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 12, 2025
ACB also said that Mujeeb Ur Rahman continues to miss action in the 50-over format till the bowler recovers completely.
Ghazanfar had started his cricketing career as a fast bowler before former captain of Afghanistan Dawlat Ahmadzai turned him into a mystery spinner. He first grabbed headlines with his brilliant performances during the 2024 U-19 World Cup where he finished with eight wickets in four matches.
That earned him a senior team call-up as he made his ODI debut against Ireland. He continued to impress and even won the Player of the Match award in the Emerging Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka A as Afghanistan went on to clinch the title.
He was also part of IPL 2024 champions Kolkata Knight Riders squad last season but didn’t feature in any match in the tournament.
