Rashid Khan to miss first Zim Test

Afghanistan's star leg-spinner Rashid Khan is set to miss the opening Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe due to personal reasons.

The 26-year-old, who last played a Test match in 2021 against Zimbabwe, was initially named in the 18-member squad for the series.

Rashid's absence marks another chapter in his prolonged hiatus from red-ball cricket.

Following a back injury, medical experts advised the all-rounder to step back from Test cricket, leading to his non-participation in the Test series against New Zealand.

On Tuesday, the 26-year-old shared a photo on his official Facebook page posing in the Netherlands, on the same day the ACB shared images of the team's preparations in Bulawayo.

The second Test of the series is scheduled to take place at the same venue in Bulawayo from January 2, 2025. On December 16, Afghanistan revealed their 18-member squad for their two-Test series against Zimbabwe.

The squad, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, includes seven uncapped players.

Among the fresh faces are left-arm pacer Bashir Ahmad and all-rounder Ismat Alam, who earned their places through stellar performances in domestic cricket.

Afghanistan recently secured a 2-1 victory in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, bouncing back after losing the opener.