Rashid Khan to Sit Out Boxing Day Test Match Against Zimbabwe: Report
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New Delhi, Dec 24 (NationPress) Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's renowned leg-spinner, will be absent from the initial Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe because of personal obligations.
As reported by CricBuzz, the 26-year-old cricketer is set to take part in a charity event, which means he will be unavailable for the first Test match taking place on December 26 in Bulawayo. He is anticipated to rejoin the squad for the second Test, commencing on January 2, 2025.
Rashid, who last played a Test match in March 2021, had missed Afghanistan's recent Test series due to a mix of injury and rest. Subsequently, a back injury required him to step back from red-ball cricket as per his doctors' recommendations, resulting in his absence from the national team’s red-ball fixtures. He also missed Afghanistan’s subsequent Test assignments against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Ireland due to a combination of rest and injuries.
In response, left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad and left-arm fast-bowler Bashir Ahmad Afghan have been included in the squad after showcasing commendable performances in domestic first-class matches. The Afghanistan Test lineup features seven uncapped players, including Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, and Riaz Hassan.
The reserve player pool for this series includes Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, and Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai. Afghanistan has a history of winning three Test matches, which includes one victory against Zimbabwe in 2021.
The Afghanistan squad is as follows: 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, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, and Naveed Zadran, along with Fareed Ahmad Malik.
