New Delhi: Star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has gone on a break from Test cricket to heal his back after undergoing a surgery last year. Afghan cricket’s poster boy has been troubled by back issues in recent times and has opted out of the rigours of the five-day format.
He hasn’t been named in Afghanistan’s preliminary squad for their one-off Test against New Zealand, which will be held in Greater Noida from September 9. It is the first Test match to be played at the Greater Noida Sports Complex.
The leg spinner has been on the sidelines for over four months after getting operated on his troublesome back the 2023 ODI World Cup, which was held in India in October-November.
He had returned to the ground in a T20I series against Ireland in March and seven days before his back woes, trouble, Rashid has bogged down by a hamstring strain when he was playing for Trent Rockets at the Hundred.
Rashid was captain of the Afghan side that played in the 2024 T20 Word Cup that was held in the USA and Caribbean, where they reached the semi-finals.
Rashid recently took part in the Shpageeza T20 league in Kabul, where he took six wickets in three matches at an average of 9.33 and an economy rate of 5.09, playing in three consecutive days from August 18.
The 25-year-old last played red-ball cricket in March 2021 and last month turned out for Speen Ghar Tigers in Afghanistan’s domestic T20 tournament.
The Afghanistan side are currently training in Greater Noida, their adopted home. It will be the first Test match between the two teams after which Afghanistan will travel to Sharjah for a three-match ODI series against South Africa beginning on September 18.
Rashid Khan hasn’t been named in Afghanistan’s preliminary squad for their one-off Test against New Zealand, which will be held in Greater Noida from September 9. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
