Afghanistan spinner Allah Ghazanfar out of action for 4 months due to injury; set to miss Champions Trophy and IPL 2025

Ghazanfar was signed by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

IPL franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) were dealt a major blow on Wednesday (February 12) when it was confirmed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) that its star spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar will remain out of action for at least four months due to an injury.

The absence of four months means Ghazanfar will not participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy, followed by the IPL 2025 season.

Ghazanfar, who has represented Afghanistan in one Test and 11 ODIs so far, was roped in by MI for Rs 4.80 crore in the IPL mega auction last November. The 18-year-old spinner was supposed to feature in the starter XI for the Hardik Pandya-led side.

“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 Zimbabwe, and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period," ACB said in a release.

This injury has forced Afghanistan to add Nangyal Kharoti from the travelling reserves to the main squad.

“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," the release added.

Ghazanfar has played 19 T20 matches so far and has 30 wickets to his name. He was last seen in action for the MI Emirates in ILT20 last month.

In the absence of Ghazanfar, MI’s spin hopes will now rest on the shoulders of Mitchell Santner and Karn Sharma.