IND vs AFG: Rashid Khan to not take part in the series, confirms Ibrahim Zadran

Star Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against India beginning from Thursday, January 11 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Notably, Rashid was named in the squad despite still recovering from his back surgery. In his absence, Ibrahim Zadran will be leading the team in the three-match affair.

Zadran informed the media about Rashid’s absence from the upcoming series but said that he will be travelling with the team. He further said that the team will miss his services as his experience is crucial for the side.

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"He is not totally fit, but is travelling with the team... he's doing his rehab with the doctor, and we will miss him in the series. Without Rashid, we will struggle because his experience is crucial to all of us, but this is cricket and you need to be ready for any kind of situation," Ibrahim Zadran was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Notably, Rashid has the most number of wickets for Afghanistan in T20Is with 130 wickets to his name from 82 innings at an average of 14.80 and an economy of 6.16. He also missed the Big Bash League 2023-24 and SA20 2024 due to his injury.

India and Afghanistan to lock horns in a T20I series for first time

Meanwhile, India and Afghanistan will take on each other in a bilateral limited-overs series for the first time. After the opening game in Mohali, the second T20I will be played in Indore on January 14 while the third game will be played in Bengaluru on January 17. The Men in Blue have an upper hand over Afghanistan in T20Is having won four out of the five matches while one has ended in no result.

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Afghanistan’s Squad for the three-match T20I Series against India: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib