Rashid Khan’s Test comeback update arrives

Rashid Khan’s Test comeback update arrives

Rashid Khan’s Test Return Delayed as Afghanistan Prioritise His Back-Fitness Management

Afghanistan may have to wait before seeing Rashid Khan back in Test cricket. Captain Rahmat Shah says the star leg-spinner is still managing the effects of a back problem, and the team’s medical staff have advised against selecting him for the longest format until he is fully fit.

The update is a cautious one rather than a permanent setback. Rahmat has made clear that Rashid remains part of Afghanistan’s Test plans and will return when he receives medical clearance. For now, however, the team is unwilling to risk a player whose availability is vital across its white-ball campaigns.

The decision highlights a familiar challenge in modern cricket: balancing a leading player’s workload across formats while protecting long-term fitness. Test cricket can demand repeated spells over several days, a very different physical commitment from a short-format match. For a bowler managing a back issue, that difference matters.

Why Afghanistan Are Taking a Cautious Approach

Rahmat explained that advice from Afghanistan’s medical professionals and physiotherapists will determine when Rashid is ready to return. The captain said the spinner is not currently considered fit for Test duties, and the team will not take unnecessary chances with his health.

“We cannot risk losing Rashid for white-ball cricket,” Rahmat said, describing the leg-spinner as an important part of Afghanistan’s limited-overs plans. He added that Rashid enjoys Test cricket, but his enthusiasm cannot replace medical clearance. If his body is not ready, Afghanistan will wait.

The captain also pointed to the workload Rashid could face during a Test. As Afghanistan’s principal spinner, he might be asked to bowl extended spells, particularly if opposition batters build a long partnership. That responsibility can add up over multiple sessions and days.

In T20 cricket, a bowler is generally limited to four overs in a match that lasts only a few hours. Test cricket offers no comparable cap on a player’s involvement: a spinner may need to bowl repeatedly, return for further spells, and contribute across a match that can last up to five days. Afghanistan’s management is therefore weighing not only Rashid’s current condition but also the demands his role would place on him.

Rahmat said he has spoken with Rashid and the Afghanistan Cricket Board about the situation. His message was straightforward: once the spinner is fully fit and approved to play, he will be considered for the Test squad. The prediction of a return, then, depends on recovery rather than a fixed date.

A Remarkable Test Record in a Short Career

Rashid’s Test career has been brief in terms of appearances, but his impact has been substantial. He made his debut against India in Bengaluru on June 14, 2018, in Afghanistan’s first-ever Test match. India won by an innings and 262 runs, but Rashid took two wickets in a landmark fixture for his country.

He made a stronger impression against Ireland in Dehradun in March 2019, claiming seven wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Later that year, he produced one of the defining performances of Afghanistan’s early Test history against Bangladesh in Chattogram.

Rashid took 11 wickets in that match, including six in the first innings, as Afghanistan secured a historic 224-run victory. He followed up with three wickets against West Indies in Lucknow. In March 2021, he again claimed 11 wickets, this time against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi.

His most recent Test appearance came against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in January 2025. Rashid once more finished with 11 wickets, although Afghanistan were beaten. Across six Tests, he has taken 45 wickets at an average of 20.44. His best innings figures are 7/66, while his best match return is 11/104. He has recorded five five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket match performances.

Those numbers underline why Afghanistan would welcome him back—but also why they may be reluctant to rush the decision. Rashid is not simply another option in the attack; he is a match-changing spinner whose heavy workload could be difficult to manage if his back has not fully recovered.

Afghanistan Seek More Test Cricket

Rashid’s fitness was not the only issue Rahmat discussed ahead of Afghanistan’s two-Test series against Zimbabwe. The captain also spoke about the country’s limited schedule in the format and the value of playing more regularly against international opposition.

Afghanistan are not part of the ICC World Test Championship, which means they miss out on the regular cycle of fixtures contested by participating teams. Rahmat believes greater access to Test cricket would help his side develop, provide more experience against leading nations, and give players more opportunities to learn the demands of the format.

“With more games we will get better,” Rahmat said, noting that a lack of Test matches is a major obstacle to progress. For a relatively young Test team, regular competition can help build patience, strengthen batting resilience, and improve the ability to sustain pressure over several days.

Afghanistan will take encouragement from their recent drawn Test against Bangladesh. Chasing a target of 479, they battled to secure a draw—a result Rahmat said felt like a win for the team. The performance, he suggested, offered confidence and useful lessons as Afghanistan prepared for Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Tests Set the Immediate Challenge

Afghanistan’s first Test against Zimbabwe is scheduled to begin in Sharjah on November 5, with the second match at the same venue starting on November 13. The series gives Rahmat’s side a chance to build on the fight shown against Bangladesh and pursue a positive result at home.

Whether Rashid features will depend on the latest medical assessments. Afghanistan’s immediate priority is to field a competitive side without compromising the spinner’s recovery. If he is cleared, his record suggests he could add considerable threat to the attack; if not, the team will need other bowlers to shoulder the responsibility.

For supporters searching for the latest Rashid Khan Test return prediction, the captain’s comments offer a clear but conditional outlook: a comeback remains possible, but there is no confirmed timetable. Afghanistan will wait for full fitness and medical approval before bringing their star spinner back into the longest format.

Latest News