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2026-07-26T23:12:10Z

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{{Short description|Afghan cricketer (born 2006)}}
{{For|the Hong Kong cricketer|Mohammad Ghazanfar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English| date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| full_name =Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar
| name = Allah Ghazanfar
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|3|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Paktia Province]], [[Afghanistan]]
| country = Afghanistan
| height = 6 ft 2 in
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right arm [[off spin]]
| role = [[Bowler (cricket)|Bowler]]

| international = true
| internationalspan = 2024–present

| onetest = true
| testdebutdate = 26 December
| testdebutyear = 2024
| testdebutagainst = Zimbabwe
| testcap = 34
| lasttestdate =
| lasttestyear =
| lasttestagainst =

| odidebutdate = 7 March
| odidebutyear = 2024
| odidebutagainst = Ireland
| odicap = 59
| lastodidate = 20 June
| lastodiyear = 2026
| lastodiagainst = India

| T20Idebutdate = 2 September
| T20Idebutyear = 2025
| T20Idebutagainst = Pakistan
| T20Icap = 59
| lastT20Idate = 11 November
| lastT20Iyear = 2025
| lastT20Iagainst = Qatar


| club1 = [[Mis Ainak Knights]]
| year1 = 2022
| clubnumber1 =

| club2 = [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]]
| year2 = 2025
| clubnumber2 =

| club3 = [[Antigua & Barbuda Falcons]]
| year3 = 2025

| club4 = [[Mumbai Indians]]
| year4 = 2026


| columns = 4

| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 1
| runs1 = 6
| bat avg1 = 6.00
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 4
| deliveries1 = 218
| wickets1 = 4
| bowl avg1 = 40.25
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 3/127
| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–

| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 17
| runs2 = 61
| bat avg2 = 7.62
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 31[[not out|*]]
| deliveries2 = 655
| wickets2 = 24
| bowl avg2 = 20.75
| fivefor2 = 2
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 6/26
| catches/stumpings2 = 1/–

| column3 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]]
| matches3 = 5
| runs3 = 7
| bat avg3 = 2.33
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 7
| deliveries3 = 96
| wickets3 = 2
| bowl avg3 = 48.00
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 1/9
| catches/stumpings3 = 2/–

| column4 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches4 = 1
| runs4 = 6
| bat avg4 = 6.00
| 100s/50s4 = 0/0
| top score4 = 6
| deliveries4 = 218
| wickets4 = 4
| bowl avg4 = 40.25
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 3/127
| catches/stumpings4 = 1/–

| date = 19 July 2026
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/allah-ghazanfar-1326798 ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar''' (born 20 March 2006), known as '''Allah Ghazanafar''' or simply '''AM Ghazanfar''',<ref>{{cite web |title=IPL: Mumbai Indians replace injured Allah Ghazanfar with Mujeeb Ur Rahman |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/ipl-mumbai-indians-replace-injured-allah-ghazanfar-with-mujeeb-ur-rahman-101739696674340.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians sign Mujeeb Ur Rahman as Allah Ghazanfar replacement |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/story/cricket-mumbai-indians-sign-mujeeb-ur-rahman-allah-ghazanfar-replacement-2680796-2025-02-16 |website=India Today |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Who is Allah Ghazanfar? Afghanistan's teenage sensation who triggered Bangladesh's dramatic collapse |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/who-is-allah-ghazanfar-afghanistans-teenage-sensation-who-triggered-bangladeshs-dramatic-collapse-in-sharjah/articleshow/115047606.cms |website=The Times of India |date=7 November 2024 |access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mujeeb-ur-Rahman replaces Allah Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians |url=https://www.iplt20.com/news/4113/mujeeb-ur-rahman-replaces-allah-ghazanfar-in-mumbai-indians |website=IPLT20 |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref> is an Afghan cricketer, who has represented the [[Afghanistan national cricket team|Afghanistan cricket team]]. He has played for [[Mis Ainak Knights]] in the Afghan [[Shpageeza Cricket League]], [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]] and Rawalpindi Raiders in the [[Pakistan Junior League]].

He was selected but did not make appearances for [[Colombo Strikers]] for the [[2024 Lanka Premier League]], the [[Kolkata Knight Riders]] for the [[2024 Indian Premier League]] and the [[Mumbai Indians]] for the [[2025 Indian Premier League]].

==Personal life==
Ghazanfar is from [[Paktia Province]], Afghanistan. He has five older brothers, and as of 2022, he lived in [[Kabul]].<ref name=SS>{{cite magazine| url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/interviews/ipl-auction-2023-allah-mohammad-ghazanfar-youngest-player-afghanistan-15-year-old-december-23-full-players-list/article66259701.ece| title=Who is Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, 15-year-old Afghanistan spinner who has signed up for IPL 2023 auction| magazine=[[Sportstar]]| date=13 December 2022| accessdate=14 December 2022}}</ref>

==Domestic and franchise career==
Ghazanfar started playing cricket in 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=NIE24>{{cite news| url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2024/Mar/29/from-missing-out-on-a-chance-to-be-mis-net-bowler-to-kkr-allahs-story| title=From missing out on a chance to be MI's net bowler to KKR: Allah's story| work=[[New Indian Express]]| date=29 March 2024| accessdate=18 April 2024}}</ref> He played for the Saleem Karwan Cricket Academy in Kabul from the age of 13.<ref name=CI25/> He began as a fast bowler,<ref name=SS/> and is now an [[off-spinner]]. He bowls finger spin,<ref name="Wisden">{{cite web |date=14 December 2022 |title=Who is 15-year-old Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, the youngest cricketer in the IPL 2023 auction shortlist? |url=https://www.wisden.com/series/indian-premier-league-2023/cricket-news/15-year-old-allah-mohammad-ghazanfar-youngest-cricketer-ipl-2023-auction |accessdate=22 March 2025 |publisher=[[Wisden]]}}</ref> due to him receiving teachings on spin bowling by former Afghanistan captain [[Dawlat Ahmadzai]].<ref name=SS/> His bowling technique has been compared to Afghan international [[Mujeeb Zadran]].<ref name=SS/> Ghazanfar trains at the Mirza Mohammad Katawazai Cricket Centre in Kabul,<ref name=Quint>{{cite web| url=https://www.thequint.com/indian-premier-league-ipl/ipl-2023-auction-10-interesting-names-afghan-allah-mohammad-ghazanfar-karthik-meiyappan#read-more#read-more| title=Afghan Prodigy & UAE's Hat-Trick Star Among 405 Shortlisted for 2023 IPL Auction| publisher=The Quint| date=14 December 2022| accessdate=14 December 2022}}</ref> and previously trained with the [[Afghanistan national under-19 cricket team]].<ref name=SS/>

Ghazanfar has played for the [[Mis Ainak Knights]] in the Afghan [[Shpageeza Cricket League]];<ref name=Quint/> his first appearance was in July 2022, having been called into the team the day beforehand to replace [[Mir Hamza]].<ref name=CI25>{{cite web| url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/for-afghanistan-s-am-ghazanfar-the-future-is-now-1502920| title=For AM Ghazanfar, the future is now| publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]| date=15 September 2025| accessdate=2 December 2025}}</ref> On his debut, he took 1/27 in 4 overs, and he took four wickets in his second appearance.<ref name=Wisden/> He was awarded the [[Player of the Match awards (cricket)|Player of the Match awards]] in both matches.<ref name=CI25/> In 2022, he played for Rawalpindi Raiders in the [[Pakistan Junior League]]; he was one of 12 overseas players in the competition.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://cricwick.net/news/16018/12-Pakistan-Junior-League-foreign-players-reach-Lahore| title=12 Pakistan Junior League foreign players reach Lahore| publisher=Cric Wick| date=29 September 2022| accessdate=14 December 2022}}</ref>
He was included in the draft for the [[2022–23 Big Bash League season]], but was not selected.<ref name=SS/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/meet-this-15-year-old-afghanistan-spinner-allah-mohammad-ghazanfar-youngest-ever-to-register-in-ipl-2023-auctions-6612505.html| title=Meet This 15-Year Old Afghanistan Spinner Who Is Youngest Ever to Register in IPL 2023 Auctions| work=[[News18]]| date=14 December 2022| accessdate=14 December 2022}}</ref> He was included in the Far Western United team for the inaugural season of the [[Nepal T20 League]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/international-talent-nepal-t20-league.html| title=A host of international talents to take part in Nepal T20 League| publisher=Online Khabar| date=12 September 2022| accessdate=14 December 2022}}</ref>

At the age of 15, Ghazanfar was included in the auction for the [[2023 Indian Premier League]].<ref name="Quint" /> He was the youngest player entered into that year's auction,<ref name="Wisden" /> and his base price for the auction was {{INRConvert|20|l}}.<ref name="SS" /><ref name="Wisden" /> He went unsold in the auction.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.iplt20.com/auction| title=TATA IPL 2023 Player Auction| publisher=[[Indian Premier League]]| date=23 December 2022| accessdate=30 December 2022}}</ref> In 2024, he played in the [[Abu Dhabi T10]].

In March 2024, Ghazanfar was signed by [[Kolkata Knight Riders]] to play for them in the [[2024 Indian Premier League]] at a base price of {{INRConvert|20|l}}, as a replacement for [[Mujeeb Ur Rahman]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/ipl-news/ipl-squad-update-kolkata-allah-ghazanfar-for-mujeeb-ur-rahman-rajasthan-keshav-maharaj-replacement-prasidh-krishna-news/article68002717.ece| title=IPL 2024: KKR names Allah Ghazanfar Mujeeb Ur Rahman's replacement; Keshav Maharaj joins RR in place of Prasidh Krishna| work=Sports Star| date=28 March 2024| accessdate=28 March 2024}}</ref> A few days beforehand, [[Mumbai Indians]] had tried to sign him to be a nets bowler, but he was unable to get a visa to perform that role for them.<ref name="NIE24" /> He was selected by [[Colombo Strikers]] for the [[2024 Lanka Premier League]] season.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1 July 2024 |title=Lanka Premier League 2024: Colombo Strikers Gear Up For The Upcoming Edition - Check Full Squad |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/cricket/lanka-premier-league-2024-colombo-strikers-gear-up-for-the-upcoming-edition-check-full-squad |magazine=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |accessdate=3 July 2024}}</ref> He was drafted to play for [[Rangpur Riders]] in the [[2025 Bangladesh Premier League]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}.

In November 2024, Ghazanfar signed for the [[Mumbai Indians]] for {{INRConvert|4.80|c}} for the [[2025 Indian Premier League]]. Due to an injury, he was ruled out of the tournament and replaced by Mujeeb Ur Rahman.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://amu.tv/157874/| title=Mujeeb Rahman joins IPL as Ghazanfar's replacement| publisher=[[Amu Television]]| date=16 February 2025| accessdate=30 June 2025}}</ref> In March 2025, he signed to play for [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club]] in that year's [[T20 Blast]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Derbyshire sign spin bowler Ghazanfar for T20 Blast| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/crew2211ejdo |accessdate=13 March 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He took 16 wickets in 14 matches in the T20 Blast, including figures of 2/5 from 4 overs against [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]].<ref name=CPL25>{{cite web| url= https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/cpl-2025-rookies-to-watch-out-for-jediah-blades-ghazanfar-bevon-jacobs-kofi-james-usman-tariq-1498779| title=Five rookies who could make a splash in CPL 2025| publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]| date=12 August 2025| accessdate=2 December 2025}}</ref> He signed for the [[Antigua & Barbuda Falcons]] for the [[2025 Caribbean Premier League]].<ref name=CPL25/>

==International career==
In 2023, Ghazanfar played for Junior Champions (a team of representatives from the Afghanistan under-19 national team) in the Green Afghanistan One Day Cup.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://amu.tv/en/48316/| title=Afghanistan: One Day cricket cup underway in Khost| publisher=Amu TV| date=13 May 2023| accessdate=25 May 2023}}</ref>

He was part of the 15-man Afghanistan squad for the [[2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricket.af/post/acb-name-squad-for-the-icc-under-ninteen-mens-cricket-world-cup |title=ACB Name Squad for the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 |work=Afghanistan Cricket Board |access-date=10 January 2024 |archive-date=10 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110153220/https://cricket.af/post/acb-name-squad-for-the-icc-under-ninteen-mens-cricket-world-cup |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the game against [[New Zealand national under-19 cricket team|New Zealand]], he picked up 3 wickets for 29 runs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFG19 vs NZ19, ICC Under-19 World Cup 2023/24, 11th Match, Group D at East London, January 23, 2024 – Full Scorecard |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-under-19-world-cup-2023-24-1399722/afghanistan-under-19s-vs-new-zealand-under-19s-11th-match-group-d-1399734/full-scorecard |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

Ghazanfar made his debut for the [[Afghanistan national cricket team|Afghanistan senior team]] in their [[Irish cricket team against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2023–24|series against Ireland]], at the age of at the age of 16 years and 236 days.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 March 2024 |title=All you need to know about Allah Ghazanfar, KKR's 16-year-old mystery spin recruit |url=https://www.wisden.com/series/tata-indian-premier-league-2023-24/cricket-news/all-gneed-know-allah-ghazanfar-kkr-16-year-old-mystery-spin-recruit |accessdate=22 March 2025 |publisher=[[Wisden]]}}</ref> In his first 11 [[One Day International]] matches, Ghazanfar took two [[five-wicket haul]]s.<ref name=AsiaCup25>{{cite web| url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/afghanistan-bring-in-am-ghazanfar-to-strengthen-spin-department-for-asia-cup-1500222| title=Afghanistan bring in Ghazanfar to strengthen spin department for Asia Cup| publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]| date=24 August 2025| accessdate=2 December 2025}}</ref> He was the third youngest cricketer to take a six-wicket haul in an ODI, and third player to take two five-wicket hauls before the age of 19.<ref name=CI25/>

Ghazanfar made his Test debut in December 2024 against [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]], replacing the injured [[Rashid Khan]]. It was also his debut [[First-class cricket|first-class]] match.<ref name=CI25/>

He was included in the Afghanistan squad for the [[2025 Asia Cup]].<ref name=AsiaCup25/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Cricinfo|id=1326798}}

{{Afghanistan Squad 2026 Men's T20 World Cup}}
{{Mumbai Indians squad}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghazanfar, Allah Mohammad}}
[[Category:2006 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Afghan cricketers]]
[[Category:21st-century Afghan sportsmen]]
[[Category:Afghanistan One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Paktia Province]]
[[Category:Afghanistan Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Derbyshire cricketers]]
[[Category:Afghanistan Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:Mumbai Indians cricketers]]
[[Category:Antigua & Barbuda Falcons cricketers]]

Allah Ghazanfar - Revision history

RobbyAyres: article