Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @rashid.khan19
Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan is set to return to Test cricket in the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Naseeb Khan confirmed this on Tuesday, October 29, following the tour announcement.
Rashid last played a Test in March 2021 against Zimbabwe and has since focused primarily on white-ball cricket. A back injury, which his doctor advised resting from long-format games, kept him out of the Test series against New Zealand.
The ACB had previously stated he would not be available for Test cricket until November, leaving his participation in the Zimbabwe series uncertain. However, Rashid has continued to play in the shorter formats, and this is expected to be the case for Zimbabwe.
Naseeb Khan expressed confidence that Rashid would participate in the Test series against Zimbabwe. “We are confident that Rashid will play for us in the Test series against Zimbabwe,” said Naseeb.
“He (Rashid) had a long recovery due to his back surgery, and we wanted him to recover fully before taking the load of playing Test cricket. Now he looks fine and ready to feature for us in Test cricket.”
To date, Rashid has played five Tests, taking 34 wickets at an average of 22.35 and scoring 106 runs, including one fifty.
The Zimbabwe series will begin with three T20Is on December 9, 11, and 12 at Harare Sports Club, followed by a three-match ODI series on December 15, 17, and 19.
The tour will wrap up with a two-match Test series in Bulawayo, with the first Test scheduled from December 26 to 30 and the second from January 2 to 6.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff