Afghanistan Captain Rahmat Shah Confirms Rashid Khan Will Return to Tests After Full Recovery

Afghanistan Test skipper Rahmat Shah has stated that star leg-spinner Rashid Khan will return to the Test squad as soon as he is fully fit, despite currently missing the format due to back injury concerns and heavy workload management. Speaking ahead of a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, Rahmat explained that team medical staff and physio trainers have advised against rushing Rashid into longer-format matches.

Workload And Recovery

Rashid has only played six Tests in his career, compared to over 245 appearances across limited-overs formats. Rahmat noted that while short T20 matches require bowlers to deliver just four overs over three hours, Test cricket places a heavy physical demand on bowlers through long spells and extended field time. Team officials want to protect him for white-ball fixtures, where he remains a vital asset. Rahmat confirmed he has held personal talks with both Rashid and the Afghanistan Cricket Board, remaining certain the spinner will rejoin the Test team once his body allows it.

Series Preparation

Afghanistan enters the upcoming games against Zimbabwe carrying confidence from a hard-fought draw against Bangladesh in the UAE, where they chased down a target after a resilient final-day effort. Rahmat described that draw as equal to a win. The first Test against Zimbabwe starts on November 5, with the second match scheduled to begin on November 13 at the same venue in Sharjah. Meanwhile, Rahmat also pointed out that Afghanistan's overall growth in the format suffers because they do not play enough matches against top teams and lack a place in the ICC Test Championship.

Context

Managing fast bowlers and spin spearheads with past back issues requires careful monitoring by team medical staff to prevent career-threatening injuries. International cricket schedules often force premier players to choose between formats, balancing national team duties in multi-day matches with lucrative short-format leagues around the world.