Afghanistan’s skipper takes a dig at Noida Sports Complex, Rashid Khan unfit
The Afghan cricket team arrived in India for a one-off Test match against New Zealand, scheduled for September 9th in Greater Noida. However, their training hasn’t gotten off to a smooth start due to unexpected weather conditions. Meanwhile, adding to their woes, Afghan’s premier spinner Rashid Khan is unfit to participate in the match.
Heavy rain lashed the Delhi NCR region on Thursday, leaving the practice pitch at the Noida Sports Complex flooded. The Afghan team faced significant challenges in their initial training session. The report detailed the lack of proper equipment to deal with the wet conditions.
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“The practice pitch was flooded and the ground staff used two table fans to dry the ground,” the report stated. It further highlighted the absence of essential equipment like super-soppers or covers to protect the crucial 30-yard circle. The situation was so bad that Afghanistan’s bowling coach, Hamid Hasan, struggled to find a dry spot even within a 10-yard radius.
The damp conditions led the Afghan captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, to take a lighthearted jab at the facilities. “Boys, we should have brought our swim gear. No way we are going to play here. Good place to swim,” Shahidi said.
However, his tone turned serious when addressing the officials in Hindi. “Sir hum logo ko aadat hai, but New Zealand waalon ko kya jawaab doge (We have trained in much poorer conditions, but what would you say to the New Zealand team management)?” Shahidi questioned.
Adding to Afghanistan’s woes is the absence of their star player, Rashid Khan, for the Test match. Rashid Khan is taking a break from the longest format of the game to manage a back injury that required surgery last year.
A source within the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) informed PTI that both Rashid and the team management agreed on his break from Tests, considering his ongoing back issues. This decision explains his absence from the preliminary squad announced earlier this week.
The absence is a significant blow to the Afghan side, especially considering their limited opportunities to play Test matches against top teams like New Zealand. The 25-year-old spinner has been a vital part of the Afghan team across formats, featuring in five Tests, 103 ODIs, and 93 T20Is.
While he missed four months of action following the surgery last year, Rashid did participate in the recent T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean, leading Afghanistan to the semifinals. He also played three matches in the Shpageeza T20 league in Kabul recently, bagging six wickets.
“The plan for Rashid after the surgery was to gradually increase his workload. Not playing the longer format for the next six months to one year was also part of the plan,” the source revealed. “In Tests, he would be required to keep bowling from one end and his back is not ready for that kind of workload. He should be available for the ODI series against South Africa next month,” the source added.
While the rain-affected training session might be a temporary hurdle, Afghanistan will need to find solutions to ensure a fair Test match against New Zealand. Additionally, the absence of Rashid Khan presents a significant challenge for the Afghan bowling attack. The upcoming days will be crucial in determining how the team overcomes these obstacles and prepares for the crucial Test match.
