Revealed: Why is Rashid Khan not playing today’s IND vs AFG T20I?

Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan is a notable absent player in the initial three-match T20I series against India. He will miss the whole series as confirmed by stand-in skipper Ibraham Zadran during the pre-match press conference in Mohali.

Rashid Khan travelled with the team, but is far from the match due to fitness reason. He recently underwent back surgery. His last competitive match was played during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India where Afghanistan secured sixth position.

The surgery ruled Rashid out of BBL 2023-24 (Big Bash League) as well as the second season of the SA20 for the Adelaide Strikers and the MI Cape Town respectively. In his absence, Kieron Pollard will captain the franchise in SA20 2024 season.

“He is not totally fit, but is travelling with the team. We hope that he gets fit as soon as we expect him to. He’s doing his rehab with the doctor, and we will miss him in the series,” Ibrahim Zadran said.

“Without Rashid, we will struggle but not that much because his experience is very important for all of us, but this is cricket and you should be ready for any kind of situation,” he added.

Despite Rashid Khan’s injury, the team is at full strength for the series. Players like Mujeeb Zadran, Naveen-Ul Haq, and Fazalhaq Farooqi have resolved their contractual issues with the country’s cricket board and are available for selection.

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Afghanistan have been put unto bat first by Team India in the first T20I at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohai on January 11, Thursday.

Surprisingly, Rashid Khan has a very poor record against India and the upcoming three-match T20I series would have proven to be an excellent opportunity to rectify the numbers. He has made two appearances against India in his career so fat, in the 2021 T20 World Cup and 2022 Asia Cup.

He ended up wicketless in both matches held in the UAE with an economy rate of 8.63.

“I believe, with Rashid out of the side, it’s a good opportunity for other players to come in and step up and become household names like he is. Obviously, we are going to miss a player like Rashid, his leadership and the overall package he brings to the side. But it’ll be good to see who is going to stand up and take responsibility and pressure, just a couple of months after the World Cup,” Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott said ahead of the series opener.