Rashid Khan Picked But Doubtful To Play T20Is Against India

image-lr38e1k0Rashid last played during the ICC World Cup 2023 (Twitter)

Rashid Khan may have emerged as a surprise inclusion in Afghanistan's elongated squad for the three-match T20I series against India but the ace wrist-spinner is unlikely to still take part in the matches scheduled in Indore, Mohali and Bangalore. 

The famed cricketer was expected to skip the rare bilateral international assignment against India after undergoing a lower-back surgery after the ICC World Cup 2023 in November. Rashid, who had delayed the surgery, finally went through the knife in the United Kingdom after completing his World Cup duties. 

He has since missed his stint with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 and also not played against the United Arab Emirates during the national team's T20I series. It was assumed he wouldn't be named for the India tour either until the Afghanistan selectors surprised everyone. 


Rashid Doubtful To Take Part In India T20Is 

Notably, Rashid had travelled with the Afghanistan side for the UAE T20I series but didn't play any of the matches. A similar arrangement will be replicated in India, with the great white-ball force only present in a mentor's capacity for the team led by Ibrahim Zadran, who continues as the stand-in captain. 

"Rashid was there in the UAE as well, watching those games from the stands. He was a part of the four reserves of Afghanistan during the UAE tour," a source privy to the developments within the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) told The Telegraph. 


"So, for this India tour also, he appears doubtful for a place in the XI. Maybe one can see him in one of the three games, but that too, only if he resumes full-throttle training."

 "Now, since he is the regular captain of the side in T20Is and Afghanistan doesn’t have too many games left to play before the T20 World Cup (beginning in June), Rashid wants to have a look at the players and how they are shaping up," the source added. 

Rashid was next due to tour Sri Lanka with the national side for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is and take part in the SA20 league in South Africa for MI Cape Town. But the cricketer looks set to skip those assignments also and may wait until the IPL 2024 for Gujarat Titans (GT) to resume his playing career.