Afghanistan have announced their squad for the upcoming tour of India, which will feature a one-off Test match followed by a three-match ODI series starting from June 6.
While Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead Afghanistan in both formats, the biggest talking point from the squad announcement was the absence of star spinner Rashid Khan from the Test setup.
However, Rashid has been included in Afghanistan’s ODI squad and is expected to return for the white-ball leg of the tour.
Rashid Khan rested from Test cricket due to workload concerns
Although the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) did not officially provide a reason behind Rashid Khan’s exclusion from the Test squad, reports suggest that the spinner has been rested to carefully manage his workload.
Rashid has missed multiple Test matches in recent years as part of workload management, especially after undergoing surgery and dealing with recurring fitness concerns.
Earlier this year during the Indian Premier League 2026 season, Rashid himself admitted that his doctors had advised him to stay away from red-ball cricket due to the strain it puts on his body.
"Red-ball cricket is a little difficult because that was the first thing my doctor told me — 'stay away from red-ball cricket'," Rashid had said during an IPL press conference.
The spinner also recalled how bowling 67 overs against Zimbabwe after his surgery shocked his doctors, who warned him about the long-term impact it could have on his career.
The development now indicates that Afghanistan are prioritising Rashid Khan’s fitness ahead of a packed white-ball calendar in the coming months.
Afghanistan announce squads for India tour, Mujeeb also left out
Apart from Rashid , Afghanistan have also left out Mujeeb Ur Rahman from both the Test and ODI squads.
Meanwhile, Rahmanullah Zadran has earned a call-up to the Test squad and could potentially make his international debut during the one-off match against India.
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Afghanistan’s Test squad includes experienced names like Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai, while the ODI squad will see the return of Rashid Khan and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.
India had earlier announced their squads as well, with Jasprit Bumrah rested from both formats while several uncapped players received opportunities in the Test and ODI setups.