Afghanistan’s key leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the team’s preliminary 20-man squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand due to a back injury. The cricketer reportedly suffered the injury while playing in Afghanistan’s T20 tournament Shpageeza Cricket League last month.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board on Monday, August 26 announced a 20-member preliminary squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand to be played from September 9 to September 13 in Greater Noida. But Rashid Khan’s name was not in this team. After which questions started arising in everyone’s mind whether he is fine or not.

In fact, the star cricketer had earlier also been ruled out of The Hundred due to a hamstring injury. Not only this, ESPNcricinfo’s Thursday report quoted the Afghanistan team management as saying that Rashid had suffered a back injury in the Shpageeza Cricket League. According to the report, Rashid suffered back pain during this match, due to which he also missed the next game.

Rashid Khan ruled out of Test cricket due to injury

Veteran Rashid Khan has faced a lot of trouble with injuries recently. He underwent surgery for a back injury after the ODI World Cup held in India in October-November last year. He returned to the field during the T20 series against Ireland in March this year.

Without Rashid Khan, Afghanistan will face a tough challenge in the one-off Test against New Zealand at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground next month. Members of the 20-member preliminary squad have begun training in Greater Noida without their star spinner.

Rashid Khan will be out of Test cricket for a long time

According to reports, he will not be able to play the Test format anytime soon as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) will keep him out of the game for several months to manage his workload following last year’s back surgery.

Rashid Khan’s Test career

In five Test matches, Rashid Khan has taken 34 wickets at an average of 22.35, including four five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls. Overall, Afghanistan has played nine Test matches, winning three and losing six. They have lost the last three Test matches.