BIG BLOW FOR AFGHANISTAN AHEAD OF SUPER 8S! STAR SPINNER RULED OUT OF T20 WORLD CUP
In what has come as a huge blow for Afghanistan with just four days to go for the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, star spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman has been ruled out of the tournament with a recurring finger injury. It will keep him out of the remaining games of the marquee event and the Afghanistan Cricket Board has named opener Hazratullah Zazai as Mujeeb's replacement.
Mujeeb has been a crucial member of Afghanistan's white-ball team, in the shortest format mostly where he has seen maximum success. In 46 T20Is, he has claimed 59 wickets at an average of 18.1, and an impressive economy rate of 6.35.
Mujeeb featured in just one match at this T20 World Cup, registering figures of 3-0-16-1 against Uganda at Providence, Guyana, in their 125-run win. Zazai was already on their reserves and has been called up to the main squad.
Coming from a war-torn country, the Afghans have been brilliant in the ongoing marquee event. They began their campaign with the big victory over Uganda and then stunned one and all to beat 2021 finalists New Zealand for the first time in any format.
Afghanistan knocked the Kiwis out of the tournament on Thursday by defeating Papua New Guinea, thereby booking their berth in the Super 8s.
The pace combination of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq led Afghanistan's seven-wicket rout of PNG in Tarouba as the strife-torn nation stormed into the T20 World Cup's Super Eight stage for the first time, knocking out group favourites New Zealand in the process.
Related News |Gulbadin Naib scored an unbeaten 49 as Afghanistan gunned down the target of 96 within the 16th over overcoming jitters. Put in to bat, PNG were bundled out for just 95 with Farooqi and Naveen ripping through the line-up.
The Afghans will face title favourites India in their first Super Eight clash on June 20 in Barbados.
2024-06-15T01:40:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd