Afghanistan’s leading cricketer, Rashid Khan, said he plans to significantly reduce his appearances in Test cricket in an effort to prolong his international career after struggling with a back injury, according to ESPNcricinfo.
The 27-year-old legspinner, who captains Afghanistan’s Twenty20 side, said medical advice following a 2023 injury prompted him to step back from the demands of red-ball cricket. He now intends to limit himself to roughly one Test match per year.
“I will take that,” Rashid said. “But I don’t think more than that I can play.”
Rashid described pushing through pain during a Test match against Zimbabwe in early 2025, where he bowled heavily despite warnings from doctors. He said the experience underscored the risks of continuing to play long-format cricket at full intensity.
“The doctor told me, ‘if you don’t want to play cricket, you keep playing the red-ball cricket,’” he said, recalling the advice he received. “You won’t be there for longer to play for Afghanistan.”
The decision marks a shift for one of Afghanistan’s most influential players, who has been central to the country’s rise in international cricket. Since making his Test debut in 2018, Rashid has played six matches and taken 45 wickets at an average of 20.44.
His reduced involvement in Tests also reflects broader priorities. Rashid indicated he is focusing on limited-overs formats, particularly with the 2027 One Day International World Cup in mind.
“ODIs, yes, I enjoy,” he said. “I’m in a good shape to play ODI for a longer period of time.”
Rashid’s workload in Test matches has been a concern. In his last two appearances, he bowled more than 150 overs combined — a level he described as unsustainable.
“I can play, but only if I bowl a spell of 20–25 overs,” he said. “But then I have to bowl the whole day if I’m in a team.”
He suggested he may skip Afghanistan’s next scheduled Test, against India in June, as part of his effort to manage his fitness.
For now, Rashid is playing in the Indian Premier League, where he recently delivered a standout performance for the Gujarat Titans, taking three wickets for 17 runs to help secure a narrow victory.
