'As soon as he's 100 per cent fit' – Rahmat remains optimistic of Rashid's Test future

Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah has expressed optimism about spinner Rashid Khan's future in Test cricket, though the player remains unavailable for the upcoming Zimbabwe series. Rashid watched Afghanistan's recent one-off Test against Bangladesh in the UAE from the boundary, sidelined by ongoing fitness concerns stemming from a back injury sustained in 2023.

The medical team's caution reflects the physical demands of red-ball cricket, which differ significantly from the shorter formats where Rashid remains a cornerstone of Afghanistan's white-ball plans.

Rahmat addressed Rashid's Test status ahead of Afghanistan's Zimbabwe Test series on Wednesday, November 4. The captain acknowledged the medical team's position while maintaining hope for Rashid's eventual return to the longer format. Speaking about the spinner's situation, Rahmat explained the reasoning behind the current decision to keep him out of Test cricket.

"I’ve had personal discussions with him and the ACB and as soon as he gets ready and 100 per cent fit, he will obviously be part of the Test squad," Rahmat was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Medical staff and physio trainers have recommended that Rashid should not participate in Test matches at present due to his ongoing recovery. The decision reflects concerns about the sustained physical load that Test cricket demands compared to the limited-overs formats.

"Talking about Rashid, it has been recommended by the team medical staff and physio trainers that he should not be playing Test games at the moment because he is still not ready," Rahmat added.

Why is Rashid unavailable for Test cricket?

Workload management remains the primary concern for Rashid's participation in red-ball cricket. As Afghanistan's primary spinner, his involvement in Test matches would require sustained bowling across multiple days, a scenario that differs markedly from his role in shorter formats.

"He's our main spinner and if he gets in the team, definitely when there's a long partnership, I will ask him to come and bowl regularly a lot. It will be load on him (in Tests) because in short formats, in T20, it's only three-hour game and a bowler will ball only four overs. But in Tests, there is a lot of workload and as per Rashid physio, he has to manage his workload due to his back injury in the past," Rahmat said.

Protecting Rashid's availability for white-ball cricket remains a priority for Afghanistan's leadership. His role in T20 and ODI formats is considered irreplaceable, and the team is unwilling to risk his long-term fitness by rushing him back to Test cricket before he is fully recovered.

"We cannot risk losing Rashid for white-ball cricket: he is such an important player. I am praying he gets better soon, and he loves Test cricket. However, if his body is not allowing it and based on the reports from the doctors and medical team we wouldn't take a risk," Rahmat said.