Rashid Khan unlikely to feature in one-off Test against India in June
The doctors said it straight out: the Test format isn’t good for his back. At least for Rashid Khan’s back after that very operation that happened immediately after the 2023 World Cup. And here’s the news: Rashid Khan unlikely to feature in one-off Test against India in June. The game is scheduled for June 6 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mullanpur.
Rashid Khan unlikely to feature in one-off Test against India in June: surgeon’s verdict
The situation, frankly, is ambiguous. On the one hand, every athlete dreams of testing themselves on Indian pitches, where tens of thousands of spectators greet every over. On the other hand, there is a strict doctor’s order that makes Rashid Khan unlikely to feature in one-off Test against India in June, and it is being retold almost verbatim: “If you don’t want to retire, stay away from the classic format.” And yet, he took the risk. A year ago, Khan played against Zimbabwe. Then he bowled 54 overs and took 11 wickets. The numbers are impressive, but the price for such a feat may be too high.
“You’re asking some very difficult questions,” Rashid admitted to reporters after bringing victory to the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. The talk was about the dramatic match against Delhi Capitals, won by one run. “The doctor warned me right away, but I played against Zimbabwe anyway. And do you know what he said next? If you don’t want to play cricket at all, keep going.”
The Afghan team played 12 five-day matches. Rashid only appeared in six of them. Not because he didn’t want to, but because his body sends out an SOS signal every time the workload exceeds a reasonable limit.
Rashid Khan unlikely to feature in one-off Test against India in June: bet on ODI
The player himself confirms: “ODIs – yes, I enjoy it. And I feel good enough to play in this format for a long time. But I also have to be careful – don’t overload myself, control the number of matches. If I want to play for Afghanistan for years, I have to be smart.” The word smart here is not a loud one, but quite practical: Rashid Khan unlikely to feature in one-off Test against India in June in order to remain fit for 2027, when the ODI World Cup will be held in South Africa. This is the main priority.
Some will say that cricket is losing out, because Rashid Khan, at his best, is capable of tearing apart any top team. Others, on the contrary, will understand: it’s better to see him in a white shirt at one-time events than to lose him forever. For now, the player himself is leaving a loophole— he doesn’t say no definitively, but he doesn’t make any commitments either.
It remains to add a few touches to complete the picture. The Afghan team has looked decent in its short Test history, but without Khan, its chances against India are diminished, to put it mildly. Local fans in Chandigarh have already bought tickets. Perhaps a miracle will happen and the doctors will change their verdict at the last moment. However, experience suggests: when a neurosurgeon says no, it’s best to listen. Especially if the main tournament of the quadrennial is ahead.
Cricket fans can only follow the news and hope that common sense and passion for the game will eventually find a compromise.
