AFG vs NZ One-Off Test: Afghanistan is set to make history as they prepare for their first-ever Test match against New Zealand, starting Monday, September 9, 2024. The Kiwis will become the seventh opponent Afghanistan has faced in the longest format of the game. Prior to this AFG vs NZ one-off Test, Afghanistan played just nine Test matches against six teams: India (01), Bangladesh (2), Ireland (2), Zimbabwe (2), Sri Lanka (01), and the West Indies (01). However, Afghanistan will be without their superstar cricketer, Rashid Khan. Here’s the reason why.
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Why Rashid Khan is not playing in AFG vs NZ One-Off test?
If Afghanistan are to get a positive result against New Zealand, they will have to do it without the services of Rashid Khan. The flamboyant all-rounder, who is considered one of the best in all formats of the game had a back operation last year, and though he playing in T20s and franchise cricket all over the world, the doctors advised against playing in the longest format of the game.
“Following Rashid Khan’s back operation last year, his doctors advised him to refrain from participating in long-format cricket, which is Test cricket, for one year,” Cricbuzz quoted Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Chief Executive, Naseeb Khan, as saying.
“We are hoping that he will available for the two Tests against Zimbabwe in December,” he added.
Rashid Khan has bee missing matches since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to the back injury. He did return to represent his country in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but the test cricket demands peak fitness from a cricketer and Rashid, at the moment, is still in recovery mode.
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Afghanistan will be playing two test matches against Zimbabwe in December this year and as per Naseeb, Rashid Khan is likely to make a return to test cricket in that series.