'As Soon As He Gets Ready': Rahmat Shah on Rashid Khan's Test Comeback
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah discusses Rashid Khan's Test comeback and the need to manage his back injury to protect white-ball availability.
Afghanistan cricket is playing a cautious game when it comes to its biggest superstar, Rashid Khan. As the team prepares for a crucial two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, captain Rahmat Shah has made it clear that while the door is wide open for a Rashid Khan Test comeback, the leg-spinner's health takes precedence over immediate selection.
Prioritizing Fitness Over Urgency
Despite being a global icon in limited-overs cricket with over 245 appearances, Rashid Khan has a much smaller footprint in the longest format, having played only six Tests. His recent absence from the red-ball setup is not a matter of choice, but a necessity driven by medical advice regarding his back injury and overall workload.
Speaking ahead of the series in Sharjah, Rahmat Shah revealed that the medical team and physio trainers have explicitly recommended that Rashid should not feature in Test matches for the time being.
“Talking about Rashid, it has been recommended by the team medical staff and physio trainers that he should not be playing Test games at the moment because he is still not ready,” Rahmat stated.
The White-Ball Dilemma
The captain highlighted a critical balancing act: the risk of losing Rashid for shorter formats. Given his immense value in T20s and ODIs, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the team management are unwilling to gamble with his long-term availability.
Rahmat explained that the physical demands of Test cricket are vastly different from the white-ball game. While a T20 match is a three-hour affair where a bowler manages only four overs, Test cricket requires sustained effort over several days.
“It will be load on him because in short formats, in T20, it's only a three-hour game and a bowler will bowl only four overs. But in Tests, there is a lot of workload,” Rahmat noted, adding that based on previous back injuries, workload management is non-negotiable.
Long-Term Plans and the Road Ahead
Despite the current hiatus, the captain emphasized that Rashid’s love for Test cricket remains strong. Rahmat has been in personal discussions with both the player and the ACB to ensure a smooth transition back once he reaches peak fitness.
The skipper was clear that as soon as Rashid is 100 per cent fit, he will naturally return to the Test squad. He further admitted that once Rashid is back, he will be the primary weapon used to break long partnerships.
Upcoming Schedule
Afghanistan enters the Zimbabwe series with some momentum after a gritty draw against Bangladesh last month. The upcoming clashes are scheduled as follows:
- First Test: Begins November 5 in Sharjah.
- Second Test: Scheduled from November 13 to 17 in Sharjah.