Afghanistan Opt to Rest Rashid, Zadran for India Clash

Rested: Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran, and Zia Akbar will miss the one-off Test vs India. Reason: Medical advice. “The trio is advised by doctors to rest from Red-Ball cricket for the time being, due to ongoing treatment”. Rashid’s back: Doctors told him after 2023 ODI World Cup surgery to “stay away from red ball”. He played 67 overs vs Zimbabwe and the doctor said “if you don’t want to play cricket, you can keep playing red-ball cricket”. Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi to lead both Test and ODI sides. Return for ODIs: Rashid Khan will return for the 3-match ODI series, June 13-20. Others out: Mujeeb Ur Rahman also left out of both Test and ODI squads. Possible debut: Rahmanullah Zadran included in Test squad, could debut. Workload management: “I enjoy ODIs… but I need to manage my workload carefully if I want a long career”. Test record: Only 6 Tests since Afghanistan got status in 2017. Has 45 wickets, tied 2nd-most after 6 Tests. Priority: “Get myself ready for the World Cup… If something happens to my back in that Test, it could affect my career”. Huge blow: Absence of Rashid + Ibrahim Zadran leaves Afghanistan without two of their “most experienced players”. India’s squad: Announced last week with Jasprit Bumrah rested from both formats and 4 uncapped players in Test team. Bottom line: Afghanistan resting key stars for the one-off Test due to medical/workload advice, with Rashid prioritising ODIs and the 2027 World Cup. Both he and Zadran are expected back for the ODI leg of the tour starting June 13. Afghanistan will be playing India for only the second time in Test cricket. They made their debut in the format against India, in June 2018, when they succumbed to a loss by an innings and 262 runs. Since then, they have racked up four wins from their next ten Tests. Afghanistan Squad : ODI Hasmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia U Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami Test Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi, Saleem Safi