Spinner swap confirmed as Afghanistan lock in Champions Trophy squad
A change of spinners for the Asian side at the Champions Trophy, with a teenage tweaker ruled out of the event due to injury.
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Afghanistan have finalised their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, with teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury.
Ghazanfar will miss the eight-team event held in Pakistan and the UAE in what is a blow to Afghanistan's spin department that is already missing experienced spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Left-armer Nangyal Kharoti is drafted into Afghanistan's squad for the Champions Trophy, with the 20-year-old looking to add to his seven ODI caps for his country and first since he featured against Bangladesh in Sharjah towards the end of last year.
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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," the team confirmed via a statement.
"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."
Afghanistan commence their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa in Karachi, with further Group B contests against England and Australia to follow in Lahore.
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Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami
Afghanistan's Group Stage Fixtures:
21 February - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Karachi
26 February - Afghanistan vs England, Lahore
28 February - Afghanistan vs Australia, Lahore