Afghanistan&& 's nationwide cricket team got here in Lahore, Pakistan, on Wednesday, ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy which gets underway next week.Players and support personnel touched down in the country on Wednesday morning.
The team will delight in a day off before beginning their practise sessions on Thursday.Their first match is scheduled for Friday, February 21 at the National Stadium Karachi.The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 marks the competition&& 's return after an eight-year hiatus and is set to begin on Wednesday February 19.
As the host country and safeguarding champs, Pakistan will complete against seven of the world&& 's finest groups to maintain their title.The eight teams are divided into two groups for the tournament&& 's opening stage.
Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Group An includes Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B consists of Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.The tournament opener will see the home group, Pakistan, face New Zealand on February 19th in Karachi.
Nevertheless, India will play all their matches in Dubai, citing security issues as the reason for not taking a trip to Pakistan.Afghanistan squadThe ICC on the other hand stated on Wednesday that Afghanistan has actually validated its spinner swap for the event.Teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar has actually been ruled out of the competition due to a back injury.
Left-armer Nangyal Kharoti has been drafted into the team as a replacement.Ghazanfar&& 's lack is a blow to Afghanistan & 's spin department as they are already missing out on knowledgeable spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.&& Afghanistan & 's young spin-bowling sensation, AM Ghazanfar, has been dismissed of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra,& & the group validated in a statement.Ghazanfar sustained the injury throughout Afghanistan&& 's current trip to Zimbabwe and is anticipated to be sidelined for a minimum of 4 months.&& Nangyal Kharoti, who became part of the reserves pool, has been promoted to the primary team for the Champions Trophy.
In Addition, Mujeeb Ur Rahman continues to miss out on the ODI action, up until he has actually totally recuperated,& & the statement read.Afghanistan team: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal SamiAfghanistan&& 's Group Stage Fixtures:21 February &-- Afghanistan vs South Africa, Karachi26 February &-- Afghanistan vs England, Lahore28 February &-- Afghanistan vs Australia, LahoreThe post Afghan cricket group gets here in Pakistan; Ghazanfar ruled out due to injury initially appeared on Ariana News.