15 June,2024 07:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Pic: File Pic)
Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman is set to miss the remaining matches of the T20 World Cup 2024 due to sustaining a finger injury following which he did not feature in the IPL 2024.
Mujeeb featured in Afghanistan's opening T20 World Cup 2024 clash against Uganda but later did not make his appearance due to a sprain in the index finger.
Hazratullah Zazai has been named as the replacement for Rahman. The International Cricket Council confirmed it after Afghanistan's win over Papua New Guinea.
Afghanistan had a replacement for Mujeeb in their main team in the form of Noor Ahmed, who played in their previous two fixtures against New Zealand and PNG. He took 1/14 against PNG in his four overs while going wicketless against the Kiwis.
"He is going to be a big part for us going forward, as these wickets continue to wear," Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan's coach, said about Noor, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"It is always nice to have the option of him to come into the side, or the left-arm spin of Nangeyalia Kharote, who can come into the side - he did really well in the last [series] against Ireland - and obviously [Mohammad] Nabi, who can bowl spin as well," he added.
Zazai is not the like-to-like replacement for Rahman but will strengthen the Afghans' batting lineup. He has not played a T20I match since February but has featured in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the T20 World Cups. He also holds the team's second-highest individual score in men's T20I cricket.
So far, Afghanistan under Rashid Khan's captaincy has enjoyed success in the T20 World Cup 2024. Afghanistan secured their spot in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 by beating PNG and will face West Indies in their final group game on Monday in Saint Lucia.
(With ANI Inputs)
