ZIM vs AFG 2024-25: Rashid Khan set for Test comeback after three years

Talismanic leg-spinner Rashid Khan is set to don the whites once again for Afghanistan after a three-year hiatus. He made his last Test appearance in March 2021 against Zimbabwe. The experienced campaigner is in line to return to the purest format of the game during Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe, which begins in December.

Afghanistan are set to play three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests against Zimbabwe. The limited-overs matches will be played in Harare, while the red-ball clash takes place in Bulawayo.

Afghanistan Cricket Board's (ACB) Chief Executive Naseeb Khan spoke on Tuesday, October 29, about Rashid's long-awaited Test comeback after the tour was announced. Following a back injury, which ruled him out from longer-format cricket on his doctor’s advice, Rashid missed the Test series against New Zealand.

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The ACB later confirmed that he would be absent from Test cricket until November, with his participation in the tour of Zimbabwe hanging in the balance. Despite this, the 26-year-old remained available for the white-ball formats, something which is not expected to change against Zimbabwe.

Rashid looks fine and ready to feature in Tests: Naseeb

Naseeb said that he is confident about Rashid's participation in the two-match Test series as the Nangarhar-born is looking ready for the rigours of the game's longest format.

"We are confident that Rashid will play for us in the Test series against Zimbabwe. He (Rashid) had a long recovery due to his back surgery and we wanted him to recover fully before taking the load of playing Test cricket. Now he looks fine and ready to feature for us in Test cricket," Naseeb told Cricbuzz.

Rashid Khan's red-ball numbers

Rashid has played five Test matches so far for Afghanistan and taken 34 wickets at an average of 22.35. He has four five-wicket hauls to his name and best figures of 7/137, which came against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in his last appearance in the format.

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Rashid has featured in just nine first-class games and taken 69 wickets at an average of 18.65. With the bat, he has scored 231 runs at an average of 23.10 and registered two half-centuries. His return to Test cricket will undoubtedly bolster Afghanistan's squad.