Rashid Khan’s absence from Afghanistan’s one-off Test against India has once again raised questions about whether the star leg-spinner will feature in red-ball cricket again. However, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi refused to offer any clarity on Rashid’s long-term Test future ahead of the match.
Rashid, one of Afghanistan’s greatest cricketers, was rested for the Test against India as part of workload management plans aimed at protecting his long-term white-ball career. The leg-spinner has significantly reduced his appearances in the longest format in recent years due to recurring back and shoulder issues.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Shahidi said the matter was one for Rashid and the selectors to decide.
“Rashid has done well in the Tests that he has played. Personally I haven’t spoken to Rashid about whether he would play Test again or not. He had discussions with selectors and I don’t want to talk about that,” Shahidi said.
The comments leave Rashid’s red-ball future uncertain despite his impressive record in the format. The 26-year-old has played only six Tests for Afghanistan but has already picked up 45 wickets at an average of just over 21, underlining the impact he has had whenever available.
Rashid was also instrumental in some of Afghanistan’s most memorable moments in Test cricket, including their first-ever Test victory against Ireland and the famous win over Bangladesh in 2019, where he captained the side and starred with both bat and ball.
WHY HAS RASHID KHAN STOPPED PLAYING TESTS REGULARLY?
Rashid’s reduced involvement in Test cricket largely stems from concerns over his physical fitness and workload.
The leg-spinner has battled recurring back and shoulder injuries over the years, with medical experts reportedly advising him to carefully manage the bowling loads associated with red-ball cricket. During previous Test matches, Rashid was required to bowl upwards of 55 overs in an innings and more than 60 overs across a match, placing considerable strain on his body.
As a result, Afghanistan Cricket Board officials and the player have adopted a cautious approach, with Rashid effectively limiting himself to roughly one Test appearance per year whenever possible.
The decision is also linked to his extensive commitments in international white-ball cricket and franchise T20 leagues around the world. Rashid remains one of the most sought-after players in global T20 cricket and is viewed as a crucial figure in Afghanistan’s ODI and T20I plans.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Rashid, Shahidi believes Afghanistan’s larger challenge lies elsewhere.
AFGHANISTAN WANT MORE TEST CRICKET
While Afghanistan earned Test status in 2017 and played their maiden Test against India in 2018, opportunities in the format have remained limited.
Shahidi admitted that the lack of regular red-ball cricket continues to hinder Afghanistan’s development as a Test-playing nation.
“We played India in 2018. We have more experience now but we need to play more to build our Test team. When it comes to domestic cricket, we play six to seven red-ball games but Tests, we get only one or two games a year,” he said.
The Afghanistan captain also pushed back against suggestions that the country’s best players are increasingly prioritising franchise T20 cricket over the traditional format.
“Everyone knows that our guys do very well in franchise leagues and if you see our white-ball performances have been good. But even then, we have a lot of talent in Afghanistan who are waiting for their chance,” Shahidi added.
For now, Rashid’s Test future remains unanswered. What is clear, however, is that Afghanistan still view him as one of their most important cricketers, even if his appearances in whites continue to become increasingly rare.
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