Explained: Why is Rashid Khan not part of Afghanistan's Test team vs New Zealand?

Afghanistan star leg spinner Rashid Khan has not been included in their preliminary squad for the Test match against New Zealand starting September 9 in Greater Noida, India.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had released a statement mentioning Rashid's absence from the squad that is set to leave for India on August 28, for a week-long preparation ahead of the Test series.

Rashid, who had last featured for Afghanistan in a Test match in March 2021 risks missing out in the upcoming Test series as well. If that happens, it will be a huge blow for the Afghan team, who rely on their star spinner for contributions with both the bat and the ball.

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Why is Rashid Khan not part of Afghanistan's Test team vs New Zealand?

While the ACB did not provide a specific reason for Rashid's absence from the Test squad, it is believed that he is still recovering from an injury that he had suffered during a limited-overs competition in England.

The Afghanistan star leg spinner suffered a horrific hamstring injury while representing the Trent Rockets against Southern Brave in the Hundred 2024 competition, on August 10.

However, the extent of his injury is unclear as he recently took part in a Afghanistan's domestic tournament, Shpageeza T20 league in Kabul as Speen Ghar Tigers' captain, where he smashed 53 off 26 balls.

"Twenty players have been selected for the training camp and a 15-member squad will be selected to play the only Test match against New Zealand after observing their performance and fitness," Ahmad Shah Sulimankhel, the ACB chief selector said.

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Afghanistan's preliminary squad for the Test series against New Zealand

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Shahidullah Kamal, Gulbadin Naib, Afsar Zazai (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ziaurrahman Akbar, Shamsurrahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masoud, Farid Ahmad Malik, Naveed Zadran, Khalil Ahmad, Yama Arab.

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