In a major blow to Afghanistan’s cricket team, their renowned leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been sidelined for the start of the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, set to begin on Friday. The 24-year-old spinner, who holds the record for the most wickets by an Afghan player in one-day internationals with 163 scalps, has been hampered by a back injury.
Expressing his disappointment, Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi spoke to reporters on Thursday, saying, “Obviously it’s a huge loss for us. He’s been a key performer over the years and we will miss him. But that also provides someone else an opportunity, and it’s a good challenge against a strong team like Sri Lanka.”
While Rashid Khan’s absence leaves a void in the Afghan lineup, the team remains confident in their bowling arsenal, which includes off-spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, as well as left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad.
The three-match series, scheduled between Friday and June 7, will all take place at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka. Notably, this venue has not hosted an international match since February 2020.
Having already secured qualification for this year’s World Cup in India, Afghanistan aims to use the series as preparation for the global tournament. Hashmatullah emphasised their goal of winning the series and assessing the potential of various players in their ranks, with an eye on the World Cup.
