Rashid Khan, wearing an Afghanistan cricket jersey, standing on the field during a Test match. His expression is focused, with teammates in the background.

Rashid Khan will be unavailable for Test matches until November

Afghanistan will be missing Rashid Khan for the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand © Getty

An official from the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on Friday that Rashid Khan will be unavailable for Test cricket until November 2024, following medical advice from his physician.

Consequently, the star leg-spinner will miss the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand, scheduled from September 9-13 in Greater Noida, India.

Rashid’s participation in the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in December, which also includes three ODIs and three T20Is, remains uncertain.

However, Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Chief Executive, Naseeb Khan, expressed optimism during a conversation with Cricpulse on Friday.

“After Rashid Khan’s back surgery last year, his doctors recommended that he avoid long-format cricket, specifically Test matches, for one year,” Naseeb Khan told Cricpulse.

“We are hopeful that he will be available for the two Tests against Zimbabwe in December,” he added.

Rumors had circulated that Rashid sustained an injury during the recently concluded Shpageeza Cricket League 2024.

Naseeb dismissed these claims, confirming that the all-rounder is fit and available for the three-match ODI series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates from September 18 to 22.

“We are happy to confirm that Rashid completed the Shpageeza tournament without any injuries and is in good health.

He will be fully available for the upcoming series against South Africa,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the 20-member preliminary squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand has arrived in Noida to begin preparations.

The preliminary squad:

Player Name
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain)
Ibrahim Zadran
Riaz Hassan
Abdul Malik
Rahmat Shah
Baheer Shah Mahboob
Ikram Alikhel (WK)
Shahidullah Kamal
Gulbadin Naib
Afsar Zazai (WK)
Azmatullah Omarzai
Ziaurrahman Akbar
Shamsurrahman
Qais Ahmad
Zahir Khan
Nijat Masoud
Farid Ahmad Malik
Naveed Zadran
Khalil Ahmad
Yama Arab

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