Rahmat Shah Optimistic About Rashid Khan’s Future in Test Cricket
Afghanistan Test skipper Rahmat Shah has expressed optimism regarding star leg-spinner Rashid Khan’s future in red-ball cricket, clarifying that workload management following past back injuries remains the main factor behind his absence. Speaking on Wednesday, November 4, Rahmat stated that while Rashid is currently not ready for the longest format, he will “obviously be part of the Test squad” as soon as he regains complete fitness. While many feel that the chances of the legendary spinner returning to the Test setup are slim, Rahmat showed optimism when speaking on the topic on Wednesday (November 4). “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. The momentum we were carrying from there gives us a lot to work on and focus on things we can do even better.
Rashid’s red-ball future has sparked widespread debate in international cricket due to his absence from recent Test fixtures. The leg-spinner, who remains a vital pillar of the national white-ball setup, was recently seen watching the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh from the boundary ropes in the UAE.
Addressing doubts over whether the legendary bowler will feature in red-ball matches again, Rahmat emphasized that the team management cannot afford to endanger Rashid’s availability for short-format cricket. “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,” the captain explained.
Elaborating on the physical demands of the format, Rahmat noted that Tests place a significantly higher strain on a bowler’s body compared to Twenty20 matches. In T20 cricket, a player only bowls four overs in a three-hour game, whereas Test cricket involves bowling long spells across multiple days. He added that Rashid’s physio has advised strict workload management due to his history of back troubles, though Rahmat assured that he has discussed the matter directly with the spinner and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
Rahmat explained that as the primary spinner, Rashid would naturally be called upon to bowl extensive overs during long opposition partnerships whenever he plays. He affirmed that as soon as Rashid is 100 per cent fit and ready, he will return to the Test lineup.
Beyond individual player fitness, the skipper highlighted structural challenges facing Afghan cricket, pointing out that limited Test opportunities stem largely from their exclusion from the ICC World Test Championship cycle. He stressed that securing more fixtures against world-class sides would accelerate the nation’s growth and provide invaluable experience for the team. “If we get more games and become part of the Test Championship it will give us the opportunity to play against top teams around the world and gain more experience,” he said.
Looking ahead to upcoming fixtures, Afghanistan is taking strong morale from their previous outing against Bangladesh, where they successfully chased down 479 to earn a hard-fought draw—a result Rahmat previously described as “equal to a win.” The team aims to carry that momentum into their upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, with the first Test starting on November 5 and the second scheduled for November 13. According to so, taking that with us, we will try to do our best and end up winning this game as well,”, Rahmat.
