One test or long career? Rashid Khan chooses World Cup focus

Afghanistan’s cricketing superstar, Rashid Khan , has hinted that he might skip the one-off Test against India in Mullanpur this June, following medical advice to stay away from red-ball cricket after a lower-back surgery .

The 27-year-old all-rounder, who underwent the surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup , revealed that his priority remains staying fit for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Despite the allure of a Test match in India , Rashid stressed that his long-term fitness comes first.

“Very tough question. It's a little difficult in red-ball cricket, because the doctor clearly advised me to stay away from it. But I still played a Test against Zimbabwe last year,” Rashid said after helping Gujarat Titans clinch a thrilling one-run win over Delhi Capitals in the IPL. In that match, he bowled 54 overs and claimed 11 wickets , proving his resilience and skill despite injury concerns.

Since Afghanistan achieved Test status in 2017 , the team has played only 12 matches, with Rashid featuring in six of them. He emphasized that while he enjoys ODIs and feels fit for them, he must manage his workload carefully . “ODIs, yes, I enjoy, and I'm in good shape to play them for a longer period, but I have to be careful not to overload myself,” he explained.

Asked about the upcoming clash with India, Rashid remained non-committal , citing the risk to his back . “Imagine something happens to my back in that Test match, I can't play 100 Tests. If you're playing one Test in a year, I can't play for 100 years. There is no target in Test cricket,” he said.

For Afghanistan cricket fans, this could mean missing one of the most exciting matchups , but Rashid’s decision highlights his commitment to longevity and peak performance in the shorter formats , especially the ODI World Cup .