Afghanistan fast-bowler Wafadar Momand has been ruled out of the upcoming 2018 Asia Cup with back injury, confirmed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Friday (7 September).

The 18-year-old pacer, who was one of three uncapped players in Afghanistan’s 17-man squad for the Asia Cup 2018, sustained a back injury during a training session which forced him to miss his maiden multi-nation event to be held in the UAE from 15 September.

According to a statement issue by the ACB on their official website, Wafadar has been “advised rest for six weeks” by doctors after an MRI scan declared a “nerve depression in his back”.

Following the latest development, Momand will undergo for the treatment for the same very soon and thereafter his return to the national team will be decided accordingly.

Meanwhile, the ACB selection committee has been named fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai, who was already in the squad as a reserve player, as replacement for Wafadar for the Asia Cup 2018.

Afghanistan will be kicked off their 2018 Asia Cup campaign against Sri Lanka on 17 September.

Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup:

Asghar Afghan (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Ihsanullah Janat, Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Hashmat Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Najibullah Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Aftab Alam, Samiullah Shinwari, Munir Ahmad Kakar (wk), Sayed Ahmad Sherzad, Sharafudin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai