Image Credit- ICC
Following a return of the finger ailment that kept him out of the 2024 Indian Premier League, Mujeeb Ur Rahman will not participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Mujeeb participated in Afghanistan’s World Cup opening match against Uganda, but he hasn’t played since due to an injury to his bowling hand’s index finger sprain.
Hazratullah Zazai, Afghanistan’s opening batter, has taken his place in the team. After Afghanistan’s victory over Papua New Guinea, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICC) declared on Friday afternoon that their event technical committee had authorised the replacement.
Noor Ahmad, who participated in their final two matches, was Afghanistan’s squad substitute for Mujeeb. Noor bowled one over without a wicket in their victory over New Zealand, but on Thursday night he took 1 for 14 in his four overs, trapping Kiplin Doriga, PNG’s leading scorer, leg before wicket with a googly.
“He’s going to be a big part for us going forward, as these wickets continue to wear,” Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan’s coach, said of Noor. “It’s 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.”
Although Zazai, the left-hand opening batsman, does not quite replace Mujeeb, he will improve Afghanistan’s batting options. Despite having missed the last two T20 World Cups, he has participated in T20Is since February and holds the second-highest individual score in men’s T20I.
After defeating PNG, Afghanistan guaranteed their place in the Super Eight stage. They will play the West Indies in their last group match on Monday in St. Lucia.