Teenage Afghanistan off-spinner AM Ghazanfar has been ruled out of both the ICC Champions Trophy and the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a lower back fracture that will keep him sidelined for at least four months, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Wednesday (12th February 2025).

Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who was initially named as a reserve, has been drafted into the main squad for the Champions Trophy, which will take place in Pakistan and the UAE from 19th February.

The 20-year-old Kharote, a left-arm spinner, has represented Afghanistan in seven One Day Internationals (ODIs) and six Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) since making his debut last year.

Ghazanfar sustained the injury during Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe late last year and is expected to be out of action for at least four months.

"AM Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra (located in the lower back), specifically in the left pars interarticularis," the ACB posted on ‘X’.

"He sustained the injury during Afghanistan's recent tour of Zimbabwe and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months, remaining under treatment during this period," it added.

The IPL is set to take place from 21st March to 25th May, and Ghazanfar was due to make his debut in the tournament after being signed by Mumbai Indians.

The ACB also confirmed that off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman will continue to be unavailable for ODI selection "until he has fully recovered," despite featuring for Paarl Royals in the SA20 league throughout January and early February.

Mujeeb, who was omitted from Afghanistan’s provisional Champions Trophy squad, last played an ODI during the 2023 World Cup.

Afghanistan will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa on 21st February in Karachi, followed by fixtures against England and Australia.

Afghanistan Squad for Champions Trophy

• Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)

• Ibrahim Zadran

• Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper)

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper)

• Sediqullah Atal

• Rahmat Shah (vice-captain)

• Azmatullah Omarzai

• Gulbadin Naib

• Mohammad Nabi

• Rashid Khan

• Fareeh Ahmad

• Fazalhaq Farooqi

• Nangeyalia Kharote

• Naveed Zadran

• Noor Ahmad