Captain Ibrahim Zadra announced Rashid Khan would miss the three-match Twenty20 International series against India.
Due to a finger injury, Afghanistan’s top spinner Rashid Khan will miss the next three Twenty20 International matches against India. which are scheduled for January 18-22, 2024. The Afghan team, who had hoped to use Khan’s expertise and ability to take on the tough Indian roster, has been severely harmed by this. Captain Ibrahim Zadra revealed on the eve of the opening game in Mohali that Rashid Khan would miss the three-match T20I series against India.
Causes for Khan’s absence
Khan’s absence was confirmed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). they gave as their reason a finger injury that happened during the most recent Bangabandhu T20 Cup in Bangladesh. It’s anticipated that the 24-year-old will be sidelined for at least four weeks. He is well-known for his convincing googlies and leg-spin variants,
Impact on Afghanistan’s T20I Prospects
Afghanistan suffers a great deal from Khan’s absence, especially in light of his crucial contribution to the team’s T20 triumph. With 116 wickets in 69 appearances, he leads Afghanistan in T20I wicket-taking. His spin bowling is often unplayable on shifting wickets. With the bat, he also contributes significant lower-order runs.
Other Afghan spinners like Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi will have to step up and take Khan’s place in the lineup. They don’t have Khan’s expertise or reliable wicket-taking, though.
India’s Advantage
Without a doubt, Khan’s absence will help India in the forthcoming series. With KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli in their batting order, the Indians will be far more comfortable against a depleted Afghan bowling attack.
Furthermore, India’s middle-order batsmen, such as Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, may be able to play their shots more freely in the absence of Khan’s spin menace.
India cannot afford to be complacent notwithstanding the benefit. Afghanistan has a number of great players and is still a formidable team. Individuals such as Karim Janat, Hazratullah Zazai, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz can alter the outcome of a game on their own.
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Summing Up
Afghanistan suffers a great loss with Rashid Khan out of the India T20I series. There’s also a great chance for other players to stand up and show what they can do. India has the opportunity to further establish their supremacy in T20 cricket. They also need to be mindful of the Afghan threat. Cricket fans everywhere will be watching with bated breath to see how the drama plays out in this forthcoming series.
