The Afghanistan national cricket team has arrived in Lahore to participate in their first Champions Trophy tournament, starting February 19 in Karachi. They will face South Africa in their opening match. The team has been affected by the loss of young spinner AM Ghazanfar due to injury, but they aim to perform well under captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.
The Afghanistan national cricket team arrived in Lahore on Wednesday in preparation for their inaugural Champions Trophy tournament. As stated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this event marks a significant achievement for Afghanistan, with the tournament set to commence in Karachi on February 19. Defending champions Pakistan will face off against New Zealand in the opening match, while Afghanistan’s first game will be against South Africa in the same city.
Under the leadership of captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan’s cricket team will also take on England on February 21 in Lahore and will face Australia on February 28. This participation in the Champions Trophy is a milestone for Afghanistan cricket, as it is their first appearance in this prestigious tournament according to PCB’s announcement.
Unfortunately, the team will be without young spinner AM Ghazanfar, who sustained a serious back injury and has been ruled out of the tournament. The injury, described as a fracture in the L4 vertebra, came from a recent tour in Zimbabwe, and Ghazanfar is expected to be sidelined for at least four months.
Moreover, Afghanistan’s spin attack will also miss the contributions of experienced spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. The final squad includes Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and others, with reserves Darwish Rasooli and Bilal Sami.
Afghanistan’s cricket team has officially arrived in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, marking a historic event as it’s their first participation in the tournament. Despite the setback of losing key player AM Ghazanfar due to injury, the team is preparing for their initial matches against South Africa and others. The participation of the team signifies the growth of cricket in Afghanistan and their aspirations on the international stage.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
