Afghanistan star all-rounder Rashid Khan is likely to miss the opening Test of the upcoming two-match series against Zimbabwe due to personal reasons. Rashid Khan is expected to join the team later in the series after missing the Boxing Day Test, set to commence on Thursday, December 26, in Bulawayo.
Rashid played his last Test match for the Afghanistan team in March 2021. The all-rounder has been absent due to injury and rest. He then took a break from red-ball cricket following medical advice. Rashid missed the Test series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and New Zealand due to injuries.
There were concerns about his availability for the tour of Zimbabwe, but he was included in the 18-member squad for the upcoming series. The leg-spinner, who made his Test debut against India in 2018, has played five Test matches. He has scored 106 runs and taken 34 wickets in his Test career.
Rashid Khan Set to Miss First Test vs Zimbabwe Due to Personal Reasons
Rashid Khan caused a stir when he posted a picture of himself in the Netherlands on Tuesday, the same day the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) shared images of the team preparing for the first Test in Bulawayo.
As per Cricbuzz, Rashid was absent from the ACB’s photos, which fueled doubts about his participation in the first Test match. He was part of the 18-member squad for the upcoming Test series in Zimbabwe.
According to a Cricbuzz report, Rashid Khan will not be available for the opening Test match. The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed that Rashid will attend a charity event during the first Test.
“He (Rashid) is away for a charity event for 1st test as far as I am aware,” said the official.
Rashid Khan’s Batting and Bowling Performance in Test Cricket
| Series | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Average | Strike Rate | 5W | Runs | Batting Average | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 India v. Afghanistan | 1 | 2 | 77.00 | 104.50 | 0 | 19 | 9.50 | 0 |
| 2018-2019 Afghanistan v. Ireland | 1 | 7 | 14.57 | 39.43 | 1 | 10 | 10.00 | 0 |
| 2019-2020 Bangladesh v. Afghanistan | 1 | 11 | 9.45 | 22.64 | 2 | 75 | 37.50 | 1 |
| 2019-2020 Afghanistan v. West Indies | 1 | 3 | 41.67 | 68.00 | 0 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 |
| 2020-2021 Afghanistan v. Zimbabwe | 1 | 11 | 25.00 | 54.18 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 |
| Overall (5) | 5 | 34 | 22.35 | 45.12 | 4 | 106 | 15.14 | 1 |
Left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad and left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad Afghan have been included in the Afghanistan Test squad after impressive performances in domestic first-class cricket.
The squad features seven uncapped players, including Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, and Riaz Hassan. Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, and Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai are included in the reserve players pool for the series. Afghanistan has won three Test matches, including one against Zimbabwe in 2021.
Afghanistan Updated Squad for the First Test Against Zimbabwe
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Afsar Zazai (WK), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, and Fareed Ahmad Malik.
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