Afghan first hitter Hazratullah Zazai will miss the rest of the Twenty20 World Cup due to abdominal muscle strain.
Afghanistan, which is the latest opponent in the group of Australia, excluded Zazai on Monday.
Zazai will be replaced by traveling reserve Gulbadin Naib, a versatile 31-year-old who captained the team at the 2019 World Cup at the age of 50 but hasn’t played for the T20 team in a year.
Afghanistan are last in Group 1 with two points from three Super 12 matches. They have lost to England, Zazai seven, and their games against New Zealand and Ireland have been suspended due to rain.
Afghanistan must beat Sri Lanka on Tuesday and Australia on Friday for a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.