Rashid Khan’s absence from Afghanistan’s one-off Test against India has once again raised questions about whether the star leg spinner will play red-ball cricket again. However, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi refused to give any clarity on Rashid’s long-term Test future ahead of the match.

Rashid, one of Afghanistan’s greatest cricketers, was rested for the Test against India under a workload management plan aimed at protecting his long-term white-ball career. The leg spinner has significantly reduced his appearances in the longest format in recent years due to repeated emergence of back and shoulder problems.

In the pre-match press conference, Shahidi said that it is for Rashid and the selectors to decide on this matter.

Shahidi said, “Rashid has performed well in whatever Tests he has played. Personally, I have not spoken to Rashid about whether he will play Tests again or not. He has discussed it with the selectors and I do not want to talk about it.”

The comments make Rashid’s red-ball future uncertain despite his impressive record in the format. The 26-year-old has played only six Tests for Afghanistan but has already taken 45 wickets at an average of over 21, underlining the impact he can have whenever he is available.

Rashid also played a key role in some of Afghanistan’s most memorable moments in Test cricket, including their first Test win against Ireland and the famous win over Bangladesh in 2019, where he captained the side and produced stellar performances with both bat and ball.

Why has Rashid Khan stopped playing Test regularly?

Rashid’s reduced involvement in Test cricket is largely due to concerns over his physical fitness and workload.

The leg spinner has repeatedly battled back and shoulder injuries over the past few years, with medical experts reportedly advising him to carefully manage the bowling load associated with red-ball cricket. During previous Test matches, Rashid had to bowl more than 55 overs in an innings and more than 60 overs in a match, which put a lot of pressure on his body.

As a result, Afghanistan Cricket Board officials and the player have taken a cautious approach, with Rashid effectively limiting himself to approximately one Test appearance per year whenever possible.

The decision also ties in with his wider commitments in international white-ball cricket and franchise T20 leagues around the world. Rashid remains one of the most sought-after players in global T20 cricket and is seen as a key figure in Afghanistan’s ODI and T20I plans.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Rashid, Shahidi believes Afghanistan’s bigger challenge lies elsewhere.

Afghanistan wants more test cricket

While Afghanistan achieved Test status in 2017 and played their first Test against India in 2018, opportunities in the format remain limited.

Shahidi acknowledged that the lack of regular red-ball cricket continues to hinder Afghanistan’s development as a Test-playing nation.

“We played India in 2018. We have more experience now but we need to play more to build our Test team. When it comes to domestic cricket, we play six to seven red-ball games, but in Tests, we get only one or two games in a year,” he said.

The Afghanistan captain also refuted suggestions that the country’s best players are preferring franchise T20 cricket over the traditional format.

“Everyone knows that our guys perform very well in the franchise league and if you see, we have had good white-ball performances. But still, we have a lot of talent in Afghanistan waiting for their chance,” Shahidi said.

At the moment, Rashid’s Test future remains unanswered. However, it is clear that Afghanistan still see him as one of their most important cricketers, even if his sightings in white are becoming increasingly rare.

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