Due to injury, Rashid Khan cannot participate in testing until November 2024

An official from the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on Friday that star leg-spinner Rashid Khan will be unavailable for Test cricket until November 2024, following the advice of his physician. This means Rashid will miss the upcoming one-off Test series against New Zealand, scheduled to take place from September 9 to 13 in Greater Noida, India. His participation in the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, set for December, is also in doubt. Along with the Tests, the Zimbabwe series includes three ODIs and three T20Is. However, Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Chief Executive, Naseeb Khan, expressed cautious optimism about Rashid’s potential return for the Zimbabwe series.

“After Rashid Khan underwent back surgery last year, his doctors advised him to avoid playing in long-format cricket, specifically Test matches, for a full year,” Naseeb Khan explained in a statement to Cricbuzz on Friday. “We remain hopeful that he will be fit and available for the two Tests against Zimbabwe in December.”

Contrary to rumors suggesting that Rashid had sustained an injury during the recently concluded Shpageeza Cricket League 2024, Naseeb Khan clarified that Rashid completed the tournament without any physical setbacks. “During the Shpageeza competition, Rashid Khan remained injury-free. He successfully played his matches and is in excellent health. We are confident he will be fully available for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, scheduled from September 18 to 22,” Naseeb Khan added.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s 20-member preliminary squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand has arrived in Noida to begin their preparations. The squad includes captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, alongside players like Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, and others, poised to represent Afghanistan in the challenging match against New Zealand.

The preliminary squad comprises 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, and Yama Arab.