Rashid Khan Out of Afghanistan For Bangladesh Test
Rashid Khan, a prominent figure in contemporary cricket, is widely known for his active participation in numerous T20 leagues worldwide and his consistent availability for Afghanistan’s international matches. However, recently, he had to sit out several crucial games for his national team, marking a rare occurrence.
During a recent three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, Rashid was absent from the first two matches. Despite swiftly flying to Sri Lanka after the conclusion of the IPL Final in the early hours of May 30, he was rested due to a lower back problem for the ODIs on June 2 and June 4.
Rashid’s absence from games played for his country is a rare sight indeed. In fact, these were the first ODIs he had missed since May 2019, prior to the World Cup held in India that year. Unfortunately, it seems he is set to miss the upcoming one-off Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur as well.
Throughout the six Test matches that Afghanistan has played so far, Rashid has featured in five of them, making his absence even more noticeable. The only Test he missed was the first game of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe in 2021.
The decision to rest Rashid for the Test match is driven by a desire to prioritize his long-term fitness. The Afghanistan Cricket Board issued a statement on Twitter stating, “Although he made a comeback in the series decider today (June 7), the team management & medical team have decided to prioritize his long-term fitness.”
Afghanistan’s Cricket Ace @rashidkhan_19 recently missed 2 ODIs against @OfficialSLC due to an injury. Although he made a comeback in the series decider today, the team management & medical team have decided to prioritize his long-term fitness. 1/3#AfghanAtalan | #BANvAFG2023 pic.twitter.com/haRfHxtfzK
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 7, 2023
Assuring readers of his current fitness level, the statement continued, “Despite being fit, our selectors believe it is crucial not to rush his return. They have taken a cautious approach to ensure he receives adequate rest and rehabilitation allowing him to regain full fitness before the upcoming BCB Tigers series, the ACC Asia Cup & the ICC CWC 2023.”
Afghanistan’s only Test victory in Bangladesh occurred in Chattogram in 2019, with Rashid serving as the captain of the team during that match. His contributions were pivotal to the victory, as he scored 51 and 24 runs and also picked up impressive figures of 5-55 and 6-49, ultimately earning the Player of the Match award.
Unsurprisingly, Rashid holds the title of Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker across all formats, including Test matches. With 34 wickets in five Tests at an average of 22.35, he outshines every other Afghan bowler, none of whom have managed to claim more than 20 Test wickets. As a result, his absence will be sorely felt by Afghanistan in Mirpur.
While Rashid’s unavailability is undeniably a major setback, it also presents an opportunity for other members of the Afghanistan squad to showcase their skills and bolster the team’s bench strength. This period will serve as a valuable testing ground for emerging talents, as they aim to step up and fill the void left by the absence of their star player.
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