Afghanistan forced into significant squad change due to injury

Injury has forced Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman out of the T20 World Cup as his side head through to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

The 23-year-old has been a valuable part of the Afghanistan side in recent years, with 46 T20 International caps and 59 wickets to his name, with an enviable career economy of 6.35 in the format.

But Mujeeb played just one of Afghanistan’s fixtures in Group C, taking 1/16 in three overs against Uganda.

And it has now been confirmed that the spinner’s injury to the joint of his right index finger is serious enough to force him out of the tournament all together.

The ICC Event Technical Committee have approved Afghanistan’s request to replace the departing Mujeeb with designated travelling reserve Hazratullah Zazai.

The Afghanistan Squad

Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Hazratullah Zazai. Reserves: Sediq Atal, Saleem Safi

Afghanistan have already qualified for the Super Eight stage ahead of the final group match against tournament hosts West Indies.

They will face India, Australia and the second-placed side in Group D in their Super Eight fixtures.

Super Eight Fixtures (as per local time)

19 June: USA v South Africa, North Sound, Antigua

19 June: B1 v West Indies, Gros Islet, St Lucia

20 June: Afghanistan v India, Bridgetown, Barbados

20 June: Australia v D2, North Sound, Antigua

21 June: B1 v South Africa, Gros Islet, St Lucia

21 June: USA v West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados

22 June: India v D2, North Sound, Antigua

22 June: Afghanistan v Australia, Arnos Vale, St Vincent

23 June: USA v B1, Bridgetown, Barbados

23 June: West Indies v South Africa, North Sound, Antigua

24 June: Australia v India, Gros Islet, St Lucia

24 June: Afghanistan v D2, Arnos Vale, St Vincent

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 consists of Wasim Khan (ICC General Manager – Cricket), Chris Tetley (ICC Head of Events), Johnny Grave (CEO, Cricket West Indies) and Kass Naidoo (Independent Representative).