Image Credit- Getty
After missing the SA20 and the BBL due to a back
surgery early last year, Afghanistan talisman Rashid Khan is all set to miss the
upcoming 3-match T20 series against India that begins from tomorrow. While
stand-in skipper Ibrahim Zadran has confirmed that Rashid has been present with
the team, a lack of full fitness means that this series has come a bit too soon
for him.
“He is not totally fit, but is travelling with
the team,” Ibrahim said. “We hope that he gets fit as soon as we
expect him to. He’s doing his rehab with the doctor, and we will miss him in
the series.
“Without Rashid, we will struggle because his
experience is crucial to all of us, but this is cricket and you need to be
ready for any kind of situation.”
Since representing Afghanistan in their hugely successful
World Cup campaign in October-November, Rashid has not played any competitive
cricket whatsoever, missing the series against UAE which his side won 2-1. However,
the visitors are well-stocked in the spin department in Rashid’s absence, with
Mujeeb, Noor Ahmed, and veteran Mohammad Nabi in support with the likes of Qais
Ahmad and Sharafuddin Ashraf.
Ibrahim looked forward to a competitive series against
India. “Playing against India on their home soil is a difficult task, but
we came here to play well against them and show our skills,” he said.
“We have lots of good T20 players, all our boys are playing good cricket,
so I am sure they will play well. We will have a good series against
India.”
Mohali will play host to the first T20 game, followed
by Indore and Bangalore. This is the first-ever bilateral series of any kind
between the two nations. They have only played in ICC tournaments and a one-off
test match.