(AP Photo)
Afghanistan’s key spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman will miss the rest of the T20 World Cup due to a recurring finger injury that previously kept him out of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). In response to Mujeeb’s unfortunate setback, Afghanistan has opted to bring in Hazratullah Zazai, known for his explosive batting at the top of the order, as Mujeeb’s replacement.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially ratified this change on Friday, shortly after Afghanistan’s convincing victory over Papua New Guinea. This decision by the ICC’s event technical committee marks a significant adjustment in Afghanistan’s tournament strategy.
“The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has approved Hazratullah Zazai as a replacement for Mujeeb ur Rahman in the Afghanistan squad,” said ICC in a release on Saturday.
“Hazratullah, who has played 43 T20Is, was named as a replacement after Mujeeb was ruled out due to an injury to his right index finger,” it further added.
Mujeeb, who featured in Afghanistan’s opening match against Uganda, has been sidelined from subsequent games due to an injury to the index finger of his bowling hand.
Despite Mujeeb’s absence posing a challenge, Afghanistan had anticipated such scenarios by including Noor Ahmad in their squad. Noor has effectively filled Mujeeb’s shoes, participating in the team’s last two matches.
In the match against New Zealand, although he did not take any wickets, Noor Ahmad left a mark with his notable performance against PNG, where he conceded only 14 runs and secured a crucial wicket — that of Kiplin Doriga, PNG’s top scorer. This highlighted his potential as a key bowler for Afghanistan during the Super Eight phase.
Zazai has been brought into the squad as Mujeeb’s replacement. While not a direct substitute in terms of bowling, Zazai offers valuable batting depth. He is renowned for his aggressive batting style and holds the second-highest individual score in men’s T20I history. Despite not having played a T20I since February, his experience from previous T20 World Cups bolsters Afghanistan’s batting lineup.
Afghanistan’s path to the Super Eight was secured with a convincing victory over PNG. They now gear up to face the West Indies in their final group match on Monday in St Lucia, aiming to sustain their winning momentum.
