Aghanistan's ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan will miss the team's first two ODI matches against Sri Lanka, the country's cricket board confirmed on May 31 (Wednesday). Rashid has sustained a low back injury and is currently under the care of medical. Afghanistan are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against the Islanders, starting June 2 (Friday). The 24-year-old is likely to return to playing for the third and final ODI game of the series.
"Low Back Injury rules Rashid Khan out of the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka. Afghanistan’s Bowling Ace @rashidkhan_19 has sustained a low back injury which forces him out of the first two games against @OfficialSLC. Get well soon Champ!" Afghanistan cricket board said in a Tweet.
"The Team Physio’s report confirms the injury and states that he will remain under full medical observation and is expected to return for the final ODI on June 7," the tweet added.
Rashid was in tremendous form during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) and played a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans' run till the final. The right-arm leg-spinner bagged 27 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 20.44. With the bat, Rashid played a couple of stunning cameos, including a 10-sixes game against the Mumbai Indians (MI). He scored 130 runs in 17 matches at a thunderous strike rate of 216.67.
Afghanistan have enough ammunition to topple Sri Lanka in the absence of Rashid but the kind of experience the leg-spinner adds to the team is hard to replace. Afghanistan fans would hope for Rashid to recover from his injury quickly and return to action.
Squads:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Rahman, Riaz Hassan
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha
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