Rashid Khan returns to Afghanistan squad for South Africa series

Ace spinner Rashid Khan has been included in the Afghanistan squad for the three-match ODI series against South Africa this month.

The 25-year-old leg-spinner missed the one-off Test against New Zealand in India, which is likely to be washed out after four days of rain delays, because of medical advice to rest his back. Rashid Khan underwent back surgery in November after the ODI World Cup in India.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said Rashid returns to the squad but opener Ibrahim Zadran will miss the series in Sharjah.

“Afghanistan will have the services of its all-time greatest spinner Rashid but prolific opener Zadran was ruled out due to an ankle sprain in his left leg,” the ACB said in a news release.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Another spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, is still recovering from a finger sprain, it said.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the squad, while batters Darwish Rasooli and Abdul Malik, who played strongly in domestic one-day competitions, have been included in the squad.

Afghanistan and South Africa will square off in the three-match series at Sharjah Stadium from September 18-22.

Afghanistan Squad for South Africa series

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad.

READ: Champions Trophy 2025 will not be shifted from Pakistan, confirms ICC CEO