Rashid Khan’s Absence from Captaincy as Afghanistan Tours India for T20I Series
Afghanistan recently announced a 19-member squad for their upcoming T20I series in India, scheduled for January 2024. Interestingly, despite being the regular T20I captain, Rashid Khan won’t be leading the side during this tour.
Leadership Role Handed to Ibrahim Zadran
Ibrahim Zadran has been appointed as the captain for the three-match T20I series, which will take place in Mohali, Indore, and Bengaluru. This decision stems from Rashid Khan’s ongoing recovery from a back injury sustained after the 2023 World Cup. In December 2022, Rashid Khan was named the T20I captain, succeeding Mohammad Nabi after the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, a back injury following the 2023 World Cup has kept him away from action. This forced him to withdraw from the Big Bash League, undergoing a minor operation to address the issue.
Rashid Khan has not played a T20I since July 2023, and his absence from the recent T20I series against UAE showcased Ibrahim Zadran taking over captaincy responsibilities. Zadran led the team to a 2-1 victory against UAE. Although Rashid Khan has been included in the squad for the T20I series against India, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) remains uncertain about his participation in any of the three matches. The recovery from the recent back surgery has prompted caution, leading the ACB to maintain Ibrahim Zadran as the captain for the India tour.
ACB’s Official Statement on Rashid Khan
A press release from the ACB stated, “Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s regular T20I Captain, has been included in the squad but might not feature in any game as he recovers from the back surgery he recently underwent. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Zadran, who led Afghanistan to a 2-1 series victory against the UAE in Sharjah, will continue to lead Afghanistan against India as well.”
This series marks Afghanistan’s first-ever T20I tour to India, adding significance to the leadership dynamics within the squad. The opening match of the series is scheduled for January 11, kicking off the historic tour. As Rashid Khan focuses on recuperating, Ibrahim Zadran will aim to guide Afghanistan to a successful outing against India in this landmark T20I series.
