{{For|the Hong Kong cricketer|Mohammad Ghazanfar}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use British English| date=December 2022}} {{Short description|Afghan cricketer (born 2006)}} {{Infobox cricketer | full_name =Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar | name = Allah Ghazanfar | image = | birth_date = {{birthdate 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
| 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 = 14 October | lastodiyear = 2025 | lastodiagainst = Bangladesh
| T20Idebutdate = 2 September | T20Idebutyear = 2025 | T20Idebutagainst = Pakistan | T20Icap = 59 | lastT20Idate = 11 November | lastT20Iyear = 2025 | lastT20Iagainst = Qatar
<!-- Only include teams where he made at least 1 appearance i.e. not KKR or MI, as he made 0 appearances.--> | club1 = Mis Ainak Knights | year1 = 2022 | clubnumber1 =
| club2 = Derbyshire | year2 = 2025 | clubnumber2 =
| club3 = Mumbai Indians | year3 = 2026 <!-- Only include teams where he made at least 1 appearance i.e. not KKR or MI, as he made 0 appearances.-->
| columns = 4
| column1 = 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 = ODI | matches2 = 14 | runs2 = 59 | bat avg2 = 11.80 | 100s/50s2 = 0/0 | top score2 = 31* | deliveries2 = 547 | wickets2 = 23 | bowl avg2 = 16.78 | fivefor2 = 2 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 6/26 | catches/stumpings2 = 1/–
| column3 = 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 = 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 = 25 January 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 cricket team. He has played for Mis Ainak Knights in the Afghan Shpageeza Cricket League, 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 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 |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.<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, 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 senior team in their 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 hauls.<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, replacing the injured Rashid Khan. It was also his debut 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}} {{Colombo Strikers squad}} {{Derbyshire County Cricket Club 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