Rashid Khan returns to Afghanistan T20I squad for Ireland series

Rashid has been out of action since the ICC World Cup in November last year in India and underwent back surgery.

Rashid had recently missed the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he plays for Lahore Qalandars. However, the Afghanistan captain has completed his rehab and will be available for the three-match series.

Rashid also didn’t participate in the Big Bash League (BBL), SA20 and the three-T20I series against India. He was traveling with the team but wasn’t fully fit.

“The plan is to represent the country in the upcoming series and the training has been underway and thankfully it went well and I hope that the following few days will also be well so that I can wear the national jersey again and continue to do well for my country,” Rashid was quoted in a VDO interview posted by Afghanistan Cricket Board on Saturday (March 9).

Rashid admitted that the last three months were tough for him.

“The last three months were difficult because I had surgery. I had been suffering from a back injury for the last seven to eight months and the doctor had asked me to have surgery even before the World Cup but I decided to play the World Cup and have surgery afterwards because it was such an important event for us but Alhamdulillah I am back on the field and feeling well now and now my focus is on returning to the field and bringing joy and success to the nation,” he said.

The first T20I of the series between Afghanistan and Ireland will be played tomorrow, meanwhile the remaining two matches are on March 17 and 18. All three matches will be played in Sharjah.