Rahmat Shah hopeful Rashid Khan will return to Tests when fully fit

Afghanistan Test captain Rahmat Shah has said leg-spinner Rashid Khan might not be currently ready for Test cricket due to workload concerns, but that he will “obviously be part of the Test squad” once fully fit.

Rashid has not played Tests of late because of a back injury and was seen watching Afghanistan's recent one-off Test against Bangladesh in the UAE from the boundary. Speaking on Wednesday, November 4, ahead of the Test series against Zimbabwe, Rahmat said the team medical staff and physio trainers had recommended that Rashid should not play Test games at the moment.

“We cannot risk losing Rashid for white-ball cricket: he is such an important player,” Rahmat said. “I’ve had personal discussions with him and the ACB and as soon as he gets ready and 100 per cent fit, he will obviously be part of the Test squad.”

Rahmat added that if Afghanistan become part of the ICC Test Championship it would help them grow as a Test nation, as they do not get enough Tests against big teams. Afghanistan are preparing for a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, with the first Test scheduled to begin on November 5 in Sharjah and the second on November 13 at the same venue. They are taking confidence from their drawn Test against Bangladesh, in which they chased 479 to draw.