Rashid Khan ruled out of 2 ODIs against Sri Lanka

Ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan would not be a part of the first two ODIs between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

The 24-year-old has sustained a lower back injury and is expected to return for the third and final game of the series.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) put forth the development on Wednesday (May 31) night.

“He will remain under full medical observation and is expected to return for the final ODI on June 7,” Afghanistan’s team physiotherapist was quoted as saying.

In Rashid’s absence, Noor Ahmad, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka last year, is likely to play. Noor was also Rashid’s teammate for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi are the other spin-bowling options in Afghanistan’s squad for the Sri Lanka ODIs.

The three ODIs will take place on June 2, June 4 and June 7 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota.

Rashid was exceptional for the Titans, who finished as the runners-up in IPL 2023. The leggie picked up 27 wickets and was the joint second-highest wicket-taker along with teammate Mohit Sharma. But he had an off day in the final against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as he finished with figures of 3-0-44-0.

Noor also performed well for the Titans throughout the tournament. The left-arm wrist spinner picked up the wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway in the final in Ahmedabad, and finished with figures of 3-0-17-2. Noor has only played one ODI and one T20I for the Afghans._India Today