ICC World Cup 2019: Afghanistan make change in squad, bring in left-arm pacer

Shirzad added to Afghanistan squad

Left-arm pacer Sayed Ahmad Shirzad has replaced Aftab Alam for the rest of the ongoing in World Cup 2019 tournament in the Afghanistan squad, the ICC confirmed Thursday.

Afghanistan team has been in all sorts of troubles. While things haven’t panned out their way on the field in terms of results, they’ve also had problems with the squad. A couple of weeks ago, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad was ruled out due to an injury which he denied afterwards.

Sayed Ahmad Shirzad approved as a replacement

“The International Cricket Council has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 has approved Sayed Ahmad Shirzad as a replacement player for Aftab Alam in Afghanistan’s squad for the remainder of the tournament,” the ICC said in a statement.

24-year-old Shirzad, has played just one ODI for Afghanistan against Ireland in March, 2019, and has also played 4 T20Is and has taken seven wickets.

SQUAD NEWS: Another change in the Afghanistan squad, as left-armer Sayed Shirzad comes in for Aftab Alam. #CWC19 | #AfghanAtalan pic.twitter.com/e6IzicptM8

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 27, 2019

Alam replaced under exceptional circumstances.

Bowler Alam has been replaced under an unusual set of conditions. The replacement of a player needs the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be legally added to the squad.

In his List A career, the 24-year-old took 12 wickets, in first-class cricket, he has taken 49 wickets from 15 matches, the pacer has featured in Afghanistan Premier League, their domestic T20 tournament and in 13 T20s has scalped 23 wickets at an average of 16.78.