In a surprising development, Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid Khan has been left out of the preliminary 20-member squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand, scheduled to take place in Greater Noida from September 9 to 13. Rashid's last appearance in a Test match for Afghanistan dates back to March 2021 in Abu Dhabi. The ACB released a statement but did not disclose the specific reasons behind Rashid's exclusion from the squad that will depart for India on August 28 for a week-long preparatory camp.
Interestingly, Rashid showcased his skills recently in the Shpageeza T20 league in Kabul, leading Speen Ghar Tigers and delivering a strong performance with both bat and ball. However, his stint with Trent Rockets in the men's Hundred was cut short due to a hamstring injury, indicating a recent setback in his otherwise impressive track record.Chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhel mentioned that out of the twenty players selected for the training camp, a final 15-member squad will be chosen based on performance and fitness evaluations.
Notably, Azmatullah Omarzai, a seam-bowling all-rounder, is poised to make his Test debut after earning a spot in the preliminary squad. While Omarzai has been a regular in Afghanistan's white-ball cricket, he is yet to play a Test match, with limited experience in first-class cricket.Additionally, Hashmatullah Shahidi retains his captaincy, and the team welcomes R Sridhar as the new assistant coach for the upcoming series against New Zealand and South Africa. Notably, Sridhar, who previously served as India's fielding coach, brings a wealth of experience to the Afghan team.
The Test against New Zealand marks a significant milestone as it will be Afghanistan's 10th overall and their third in 2024, the highest number of Test matches they have played in a calendar year so far.In summary, while Rashid's absence raises eyebrows, the team is gearing up with a mix of established players and promising newcomers for the upcoming challenges against New Zealand and South Africa.