IPL 2023 Auction: Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, 15-Year-Old Mystery Spinner From Afghanistan

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar is 15 years old and a right-arm off-spinner from Afghanistan. The kid is registered for the Kochi IPL Auction on December 23, as per Sportstar. Ghazanfar is the youngest in the auction and had tried to enter the BBL earlier in 2022 but was not bought.

Many feel Ghazanfar is in the class of Mujeeb Zadran. Zadran is very popular as a spinner on the international stage and in different leagues.

Ghazanfar has set a base price of Rs 20 lakh and is a fan of Ravichandran Ashwin.

¡°Ashwin has been a champion spinner for India, and I like his variations. I have always considered him my inspiration,¡± Ghazanfar said while speaking to Sportstar.

Sportstar

The native of Zurmat district in Paktia province, Ghazanfar towers at a height of 6 feet and 2 inches. At first, he was a fast bowler but eventually under tutelage of Dawlat Ahmadzai, became a spinner.

¡°I started with tennis ball cricket and would play in my neighborhood, but under the guidance of my coach, I started bowling spin, and soon, I developed an action, and there hasn¡¯t been any looking back since,¡± he added.

He is able to understand Hindi but cannot speak it easily, so his friends act as translators. But Ghazanfar insists that communication is not a hindrance.

AFP

¡°I have played a fair bit of junior cricket, and my ultimate target is to play for Afghanistan. The IPL will help me improve my game as I would be able to learn quite a few things from the Indian and overseas players, and I am really looking forward to the experience. I hope to get picked by a franchise,¡± he went on to say.

¡°I played a fair amount of junior cricket, and I feel that I have the talent to perform at the higher level,¡± he continued. .