NEWS
Follow UsAfghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the three-match T20 International (T20I) series against India as he continues to recover from the lower-back surgery. As a result, Rashid was forced to miss the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) and will take no part in the SA20.
"He is not totally fit, but is travelling with the team," Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran confirmed the news ahead of the first T20I against India on Thursday (January 11).
"We hope that he gets fit as soon as we expect him to. He's doing his rehab with the doctor, and we will miss him in the series.
"Without Rashid, we will struggle but not that much because his experience is very important for all of us, but this is cricket and you should be ready for any kind of situation."
The leg-spinner was last seen in action for Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup in India, where his side notched up four wins. He missed the recent 2-1 series win over UAE and in his absence Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Qais Ahmad and Sharafuddin Ashraf have shared the responsibilities in the spin bowling department.
Qais, was in fact, the leading wicket-taker in the series against UAE, pouching six wickets at at 11.16, along with an economy rate of 6.70.
Ibrahim further adds that that he is confident of putting up a good show against India.
Playing against India on their home soil is a difficult task, but we came here to play well against them and show our skills," he said. "We have lots of good T20 players, all our boys are playing good cricket, so I am sure they will play well. We will have a good series against India."
After the first T20I on Thursday in Mohali, the action shifts to Mohali and Bengaluru for the second and third T20I on January 14 and 17 respectively.
