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ZIM vs AFG: Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner and T20 captain will miss his country’s most-awaited match against Zimbabwe. The player will be away from the Afghanistan cricket team as it is to play the second day of a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day – December 26 at Queen’s Park in Bulawayo.
Currently, Afghanistan is on tour in Zimbabwe for the All Format Series. Yet the main player of the bowling department, Rashid Khan is going to miss his first Test due to previous engagements of the charity event. which he is supposed to attend.
Rashid Khan’s Absence Reason in ZIM vs AFG Test
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As has been reported, Rashid Khan was supposed to miss the Boxing Day Test due to his participation in some charity event, which happened to coincide with the first Test of the series. According to an official at the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), “As far as I know, Rashid has gone out for a charity event, which is why he won’t be part of the first Test match.”
This is a surprise to most since Rashid Khan has been instrumental for Afghanistan, especially in limited-overs formats. This leaves an undeniable void considering how he is crucial in the bowling line-up for Afghanistan. Nonetheless, they should still push forward in the preparations and strategies for the Test series.
Afghanistan’s Solid Form Before the Test Series
Although Khan will be missing out, Afghanistan heads into the two-match Test series in great shape and full of confidence. They have been phenomenal in recent times, winning both the T20 series 2-1 and the ODI series 3-0 against Zimbabwe. The shorter format wins will give Afghanistan a good amount of morale boost and would look to take it forward into the longer version of the game.
Afghanistan being one of the best sides against Zimbabwe will surely keep them strong in this game, with stalwarts like Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, and Mohammad Nabi in command. Test series will have better control for the Afghanistan side because of having their last successive wins back home, thus they shall be more hopeful to seize the lead by winning in the first Test.
Rashid Khan Injury Comes Back
Rashid Khan has not had the best of times this year, as injuries have seen him take some setbacks. He returned to the Afghanistan side for this series after coming back from a back injury that had seen him miss the Test series against New Zealand. The injury had left him out of action for a long time, and his no-show in the New Zealand series had brought into question his fitness for the game’s longer version.
Despite his rather small experience of Test cricket, the fact is that Rashid Khan has been very effective time and again in this form. In five appearances, he has taken 34 wickets at an amazing average of 22.35. His tremendous ball-turning ability and astute cricketing mind do make him one of the world’s most dangerous left-arm spin bowlers notwithstanding the small number of appearances in Test matches for Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan Test Cricket Statistics
While Rashid Khan is known for his success in the limited-overs formats, especially in T20s, where he has gained international fame, his performances in Test cricket also merit attention. In his five Test matches, he has shown his potential as a match-winner, taking 34 wickets at an average of 22.35. His best performances have come in testing conditions and he has shown a propensity to consistently trouble the batsmen with his guile and variety.
Rashid’s absence from the first Test is, therefore a big blow for Afghanistan, especially with his experience in the longer format. Afghanistan has considerable depth in spin bowling with players like Zahir Khan and Mohammad Nabi.
Future Prospect for Afghanistan in the Series
No doubt, the Afghan team would miss Rashid Khan in the first Test. But the team is optimistic regarding its chances against Zimbabwe. Afghanistan has always fared well against Zimbabwe. Dominant performances in the T20 and ODI series have led to expectations of a similar victory in the Test series also.
The second Test will likely see Rashid Khan back in the squad once he finishes his charity commitments. He will prove to be a vital reinforcement for Afghanistan, as they look to overwhelm Zimbabwe in the longer format and win the Test series. Afghanistan will also be eager to establish itself as a power in international Test cricket following its success in the shorter formats of the game recently.
Rashid Khan’s absence from Afghanistan’s Boxing Day Test against Zimbabwe is certainly a setback, but the team’s strong recent form and depth in their bowling attack offer them hope for a successful start to the series. With his return expected for the second Test, Afghanistan will be looking to capitalize on their momentum and aim for a series victory.
For Rashid Khan, his commitment to the charity event speaks of his off-field involvement and dedication towards causes beyond cricket, and his injury recovery and performances will ensure his importance in Afghanistan’s cricketing future.
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