Afghanistan star all-rounder Rashid Khan is ruled out of the first two ODIs matches against Sri Lanka due to a lower back injury. Afghanistan team will start their preparation against Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup 2023, followed by the high-stakes ODI World Cup later this year in India.
The three-match ODI series begins with the first in Hambantota on Friday, with the second game will be played two days later at the same ground and the team will be hoping to have their star spinner Rashid Khan for the final game on June 7.
“Low Back Injury rules Rashid Khan out of the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka. Afghanistan’s Bowling Ace @rashidkhan 19 has sustained a low back injury which forces him out of the first two games against @OfficialSLC. Get well soon Champ.”
“The Team Physio’s report confirms the injury and states that he will remain under full medical observation and is expected to return for the final ODI on June 7”.
Rashid Khan played exceptionally well for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 picking up 27 wickets from 17 games. The Afghanistan all-rounder has been one of the best T20 players in the world and has once again proved his worth in the cash-rich league, with the ability to contribute to the team’s success with both bat and ball. Rashid batted well in the limited opportunity 130 runs, including an unbeaten 79 against the Mumbai Indians, at a colossal strike rate of 216.66.
Spin bowling has been the strength of the Afghanistan team in recent times and their spinners can be lethal, especially in sub-continental conditions. In the absence of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad will have to take up the extra responsibility to do well against Sri Lanka.
Earlier in the series before IPL, Afghanistan, who had never beaten Pakistan in any format, defeated them in the first two T20Is of the three-match series under Rashid Khan in Sharjah and despite losing the third and final match, pocketed the series 2-1, creating history in the process.
Afghanistan Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhail (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujib ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Abdul Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Farid Ahmad Malik.