Rashid Khan ruled out of series opener against Sri Lanka due to injury | Cricket News – Times of India

In a major blow to Afghanistan’s cricket team, their renowned leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been sidelined for the start of the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, set to begin on Friday. The 24-year-old spinner, who holds the record for the most wickets by an Afghan player in one-day internationals with 163 scalps, has been hampered by a back injury.
Expressing his disappointment, Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi spoke to reporters on Thursday, saying, “Obviously it’s a huge loss for us. He’s been a key performer over the years and we will miss him. But that also provides someone else an opportunity, and it’s a good challenge against a strong team like Sri Lanka.”
While Rashid Khan’s absence leaves a void in the Afghan lineup, the team remains confident in their bowling arsenal, which includes off-spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, as well as left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad.

The three-match series, scheduled between Friday and June 7, will all take place at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka. Notably, this venue has not hosted an international match since February 2020.
Having already secured qualification for this year’s World Cup in India, Afghanistan aims to use the series as preparation for the global tournament. Hashmatullah emphasised their goal of winning the series and assessing the potential of various players in their ranks, with an eye on the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has made a significant addition to their batting lineup by recalling opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne. The 35-year-old, who last played an ODI over two years ago, is expected to provide stability at the top.
Captain Dasun Shanaka expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, stating, “We already brought in Angelo Mathews into the fold in our last white-ball series. We have a relatively young team and it is good to have that depth.”

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack will be spearheaded by the returning Dushmantha Chameera, who makes a comeback after a seven-month injury layoff. However, the team faces injury concerns of their own, with leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga uncertain to start due to a foot problem.
While opening batsman Pathum Nissanka has recovered from a back injury, the explosive batter Kusal Perera has pulled out of the series due to a hamstring strain. Sri Lanka has also called up Matheesha Pathirana, a talented player from the Chennai Super Kings team that recently clinched their fifth Indian Premier League title.
Speaking highly of Pathirana’s potential, Captain Dasun Shanaka commented, “No doubt he has got a bright future ahead and will have a big impact in years to come.”
As both teams gear up for an exciting series, the absence of Rashid Khan and the return of seasoned players like Karunaratne add an intriguing dynamic to the contest, promising cricket fans an enthralling battle between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Abdul Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran and Riaz Hassan.
Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushan Hemantha.
(With inputs from AFP)