Rashid Khan cuts down on Tests, looking to play one a year

Afghanistan's premier spinner has had to shift his priorities since his back injury in 2023

ESPNcricinfo staff

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 7:36 AM (2 hrs ago)

Rashid Khan is having to cut down on his appearances in Test cricket in order to prolong his Afghanistan career. The 27-year-old legspinner, who captains his country in T20Is, was told to step back from the red-ball game after his back injury in 2023 and is now functioning on a one-Test-a-year system. He ticked off 2025 with a game against Zimbabwe in January. He could tick off 2026 with a game against India but it looks unlikely.

"I bowled 67 [55] overs, which was crazy," Rashid said casting his mind back 15 months to Bulawayo. He added he played that Test against medical advice.

"The doctor told me like, 'if you don't want to play cricket, you keep playing the red-ball cricket' because it's not going to support you. You won't be [there] for longer to play for Afghanistan and I still went and I still played and when he knew I bowled 67 [55] overs in one innings, in two innings, he was shocked. He was 'no, you can't do that to yourself'. I will think about that."

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Rashid may be rationing his long-format appearances because he had previously pushed himself too hard. Initially when he was diagnosed with his back injury, with the 2023 World Cup in the frame, he opted against having surgery in order to keep playing for Afghanistan. That diminished his abilities as a bowler and left him with a lot of pain. So now he wants to be better at managing the time he spends on the field and appeared to rule himself out of Afghanistan's next Test, against India on June 6.

"I've already played one before. So I will just take it easy," Rashid said. He is actually yet to play a red-ball game in 2026 but had other reasons to back up his position, including how players from countries who are only outside chances to make the World Test Championship final view the format. "Get myself ready for the [2027 ODI] World Cup. Imagine something happens to my back in that Test match. I can't play 100 Test matches. If you're playing one Test in a year, I can't play for 100 years. And there is no target in Test cricket."

Rashid's current focus is on the IPL. On Wednesday, he picked up 3 for 17 in four overs to help Gujarat Titans beat Delhi Capitals by one run. Then he is looking forward to the World Cup.

"ODIs, yes, I enjoy," he said, "And I'm in a good shape to play ODI for a longer period of time for Afghanistan, but just to be careful with how many I play and not to put too much load on myself, to be careful if I want to play for a longer period of time. But especially, red-ball is something which looks a bit difficult for me to keep it. Yes, one Test in a year, I will take that. But I don't think so more than that I can play. I will try. I can play but [only] if I bowl a spell of 20-25 overs. But then I have to bowl the whole day if I'm in a team. Last two Test matches if you take, I bowled 167 [154.2] overs which is I think too much."

Since making his Test debut in 2018, Rashid has played a total of six matches, picking up 45 wickets at an average of 20.44.

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