Rashid Khan ruled out of India T20I series

Rashid has not played since the conclusion of the World Cup, which meant he also missed a series win over United Arab Emirates and pulled out of the Big Bash

Nick Friend | 10/01/2024 at 11:33

Rashid Khan's ongoing recovery from back surgery has ruled him out of Afghanistan's T20I series against India.

It is the latest commitment in a jampacked personal calendar from which the leg-spinner has been forced to withdraw.

Rashid was previously ruled out of the Big Bash and the SA20, with Kieron Pollard moved across from MI Emirates to replace him as captain at MI Cape Town.

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran confirmed that Rashid, who The Cricketer understands has been in the UK as part of his rehabilitation programme, is travelling with Afghanistan's squad despite not being fit to feature.

"We hope that he gets fit as soon as we expect him to," said Zadran. "He's doing his rehab with the doctor, and we will miss him in the series.

"Without Rashid, we will struggle but not that much because his experience is very important for all of us, but this is cricket, and you should be ready for any kind of situation."

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^{Rashid has not played since the World Cup (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)}

He has not played since the conclusion of the World Cup, which meant he also missed a series win over United Arab Emirates, which was best known for the controversy over the availability of three of Rashid's international teammates.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq and Mujeeb Ur Rahman were all sanctioned for stating a desire to forego their central contracts for 2024. Mujeeb's involvement in the Big Bash was ultimately curtailed when the Afghanistan Cricket Board revoked his no-objection certificate in retaliation.

Mujeeb, though, has now returned to Afghanistan's squad, alongside Farooqi and Naveen, for the series in India.