NEW DELHI: Rashid Khan will miss the three-match T20I series against India as he recovers from lower-back surgery that has kept him out of the BBL and the SA20. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran acknowledged that Rashid had traveled to Chandigarh with the team but was not yet match-fit.
“He is not totally fit, but is travelling with the team,” he stated. “We hope he gets back to normal as soon as possible.” He’s in rehab with the doctor, and we’ll miss him in the show.”We will struggle without Rashid, but not too much because his experience is really valuable for all of us, but this is cricket, and you should be prepared for any eventuality.”
Rashid hasn’t played a competitive game since the ODI World Cup in October-November, and he was absent from Afghanistan’s most recent assignment, a 2-1 T20I series triumph over UAE at the start of the year. In Rashid’s absence, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Qais Ahmad, and Sharafuddin Ashraf will share Afghanistan’s spin duty in India.
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Qais, who has taken over as Afghanistan’s legspinner in Rashid’s absence, was the series’ highest wicket-taker with six wickets at an average of 11.16 and an economy rate of 6.70.
Ibrahim anticipated a difficult series against India. “Playing against India on their home soil is a difficult task, but we came here to play well against them and show our skills,” he told reporters. “We have a lot of good T20 players, and all of our boys are playing good cricket, so I am confident they will perform well.” We will enjoy a successful series against India.”
The three-match T20I series gets underway in Mohali on Thursday. The second and third Twenty20 Internationals will be held at Indore and Bangalore on January 14 and 17, respectively.
