Rashid Khan's back injury resurfaces, ruled out of one-off Test versus New Zealand

Afghanistan cricket team has been hit by a major blow after star legspinner Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the preliminary 20-member squad for the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand. The match is scheduled to begin on September 9, in Greater Noida.

Notably, this series will be a historic moment as the first-ever Test encounter between the two nations in India. Khan sustained a back injury while participating in the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL), Afghanistan's domestic T20 tournament, last month. As per Afghan cricket management, the injury occurred during his third consecutive match for Speen Ghar Tigers, where he had been in exceptional form, claiming six wickets at an impressive average of 9.33 and an economy rate of 5.09.

The injury adds to a concerning pattern for the 24-year-old spinner. Rashid Khan had only recently returned to action in March, following a four-month gap due to back surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Moreover, he had suffered a hamstring strain while playing for Trent Rockets in the Hundred just a week before this latest back issue.

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Afghanistan are training in their second home for New Zealand series

Despite the leg spinner's absence, Afghanistan has begun preparations for the Test match at their adopted home ground in Greater Noida. The 20-member preliminary squad, led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, includes a mix of experienced players and emerging talents. Notable names such as Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and Gulbadin Naib feature alongside promising youngsters like Riaz Hassan and Abdul Malik.

The final 15-member squad will be selected following a week-long preparation camp in Greater Noida, with performance and fitness assessments determining the lineup that will take on the Black Caps in this historic Test match.

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Afghanistan preliminary squad for one-off Test:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Alikhel (wk), Shahidullah Kamal, Gulbadin Naib, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ziaurrahman Akbar, Shamsurrahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masoud, Farid Ahmad Malik, Naveed Zadran, Khalil Ahmad and Yama Arab.