Rashid Khan to Miss Opening Test Against Zimbabwe for Personal Reasons
Afghanistan's star leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, will miss the first Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe, set to begin on December 26 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The 26-year-old, who has not played Test cricket since 2021 due to a back injury, had been away from the format on medical advice. Although he was initially ruled out of the series, Rashid was later included in Afghanistan's 18-man squad for the tour.
However, despite the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) sharing updates of the team’s preparations in Bulawayo, Rashid was absent from the squad. The player himself posted a photo from the Netherlands on social media on the same day, further fueling speculation about his availability.
An official from the ACB confirmed that Rashid will be unavailable for the opening Test as he is attending a charity event. Sources confirmed his return for the second Test, scheduled to begin on January 2, at the same venue.
