Rashid Khan to Skip Test Cricket Due to Back Issues

Afghanistan cricket star Rashid Khan will be taking a break from Test cricket to recover from back surgery. Rashid and the Afghanistan Cricket Board mutually agreed on this plan. Despite recent games, his back isn't ready for the long format. He aims to be fit for upcoming ODIs against South Africa.

Afghanistan cricket's poster boy Rashid Khan will not play in the Test format in the near future to nurse his back after undergoing surgery last year.

A source in the Afghanistan Cricket Board told PTI that Rashid and the team management had mutually decided on his break from the longest format considering his back issues. Earlier this week, he was not named in the preliminary squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida from September 9. Rashid was out of action for four months after undergoing back surgery following the ODI World Cup in India in October-November. He was part of the more recent T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean where he captained Afghanistan to the semifinals.

The 25-year-old recently played three games in as many days in the Shpageeza T20 league in Kabul, taking six wickets in total. 'The plan for Rashid after the surgery was to gradually increase his workload. Not playing the longer format for the next six months to one year was also part of the plan. 'In Tests, he would be required to keep bowling from one end, and his back is not ready for that kind of workload. He should be available for the ODI series against South Africa next month,' the source said.

Rashid has played five Tests, 103 ODIs, and 93 T20Is for Afghanistan, who hardly get to play the five-day game against top teams like New Zealand.

He also suffered a hamstring injury during The Hundred in the UK earlier this month.

The Afghanistan squad is already in Greater Noida, its adopted home venue, and have begun preparations for the Test against New Zealand.

Rashid should be able to play the three ODIs against South Africa in the UAE from September 18, the first-ever bilateral series between the two nations.

(With inputs from agencies.)