Afghanistan star 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, scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 26, in Bulawayo.
Rashid last played a Test match for the Afghanistan national team in March 2021. The all-rounder has been sidelined 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 scored 106 runs and took 34 wickets in his Test career.
Rashid Khan is set to miss the first Test against Zimbabwe due to personal reasons
Rashid Khan caused a stir when he posted a photo of himself in the Netherlands on Tuesday, the same day the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) shared photos of the team preparing for the first Test in Bulawayo.
According to Cricbuzz, Rashid was absent from the ACB pictures, raising 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 has confirmed that Rashid will attend a charity event during the first Test.
“He (Rashid) is traveling to attend a charity event for the first Test as far as I know,” the official said.
Rashid Khan's batting and bowling performance in Test cricket
| series | Matches | Wicket | Average bowling | Strike rate | 5 watts | Runs | Batting average | 1950s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 India vs Afghanistan | 1 | 2 | 77.00 | 104.50 | 0 | 19 | 9.50 | 0 |
| 2018-2019 Afghanistan vs Ireland | 1 | 7 | 14.57 | 39.43 | 1 | 10 | 10.00 | 0 |
| 2019-2020 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | 1 | 11 | 9.45 | 22.64 | 2 | 75 | 37.50 | 1 |
| 2019-2020 Afghanistan vs West Indies | 1 | 3 | 41.67 | 68.00 | 0 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 |
| 2020-2021 Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | 1 | 11 | 25.00 | 54.18 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 |
| Total (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 team includes seven players who have never played internationally, including Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmed Malik and Riaz Hassan. Nasir Jamal, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Ibrahim Abdul Rahimzai were included in the stand-in players for the series. Afghanistan has won three Test matches, including one against Zimbabwe in 2021.
Afghanistan has updated its lineup for the first Test against Zimbabwe
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rehmat Shah (VC), Ikram Ali Khel (WK), Afsar Zazai (WK), Riaz Hassan, Siddiqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Bahir Shah Mehboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Ziaur Rahman Akbar. Zahir Shehzad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.