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The star of Afghanistan Rashid Khan the long-awaited one has been skipped Boxing Day test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that Rashid’s absence is due to personal reasons, specifically his commitment to a charity event.
Details of Rashid Khan’s absence
Rashid, who has not played a Test match since March 2021, was initially included in the 18-member squad for the two-match series against Zimbabwe. However, he withdrew from the opening test a day before the scheduled start of the match. An ACB official stated: “As far as I know, he is absent for a charity event for the first test.” clarifying that his focus was on this important commitment rather than participating in the match.
Rashid’s performance in Test cricket
Rashid Khan has been a pivotal player for Afghanistan, known for his exceptional bowling skills and his ability to change the course of a game. His record in Test cricket includes 34 wickets in just five matches, with an impressive bowling average of 22.35. Despite his talent, Rashid has faced challenges with injuries that have kept him out of several recent Test series, including those against New Zealand and others earlier this year. The player’s absence is a significant blow for the Afghanistan team as they look to build on their recent success in limited edition formats. Afghanistan recently recorded a 2-1 victory in a T20I series against Zimbabwe and aim to carry that momentum into the Test field.
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The second Test will be held at the same venue from January 2, 2025 and Rashid is expected to rejoin the team for that match.
ZIM vs AFG: Playing XI of both teams
Afghanistan: Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Allah GhazanfarAfsar Zazai (week), Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahidullah Kamal, Naveed Zadran, Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan
Zimbabwe: Joylord Gumbie (wk), Ben Curran, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Dion Myers, Brandon Mavuta, Brian Bennett, Newman Nyamhuli, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu
READ ALSO: ZIM vs AFG 2024, 1st Test: Queens Sports Club presentation report, Bulawayo Test statistics and records
