ICC approves Naib as replacement for injured Zazai in Afghanistan squad

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 has approved Gulbadin Naib as a replacement for Hazratullah Zazai in the Afghanistan squad.

Naib, who is a traveling reserve, was named as a replacement after Zazai was ruled out due to an abdominal muscle strain sustained during a practice session in Melbourne two weeks ago.

The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.

Zazai sprained his abdominal muscles during a training session and was ruled out of both of Afghanistan’s last two matches – against New Zealand and Ireland, the two games that were washed out due to persistent rain in Melbourne.

The team had hoped he would be well enough to play in Tuesday’s match against Sri Lanka. However, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said in a statement on Monday that he developed pain in a kidney during a training session on Sunday, which scuppered hopes of him being cleared for the match.

According to the team doctor’s report, Zazai was taken to a hospital for scans, which picked up some renal anomalies including a small tear in an abdominal muscle.

The ACB also confirmed he has now been ruled out of the World Cup.

Tuesday’s match takes place in Brisbane and for cricket fans in Afghanistan the match can be viewed live on Ariana Television.

For the broadcasting schedule CLICK HERE