Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan is not playing the first ODI against Sri Lanka to leave his team in a spot of bother. In fact, the 24-year old player has been ruled out of the first two of this three-match ODI series.
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As a result, Afghanistan have had to make one forced out of their two changes to the Playing XI which had last participated in this format. It is to be noted that this is Afghanistan’s first ODI since the their tour of Sri Lanka six months ago.
Other than Khan, former captain Gulbadin Naib has also been left out. As a result, all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai and pacer Fareed Ahmad have been handed opportunities. Readers must note that both the players are playing in their first ODI since the tour of Zimbabwe 12 months ago.
Why is Rashid Khan Not Playing Today vs Sri Lanka?
As is going to be the case at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi acknowledged that they will be missing Rashid Khan for most part of this ODI series.
“We want to bowl first. The wicket is fresh. It’ll seam in the first half an hour. We’ll miss Rashid [Khan] but we have a lot of quality players. We have worked very hard in our batting department,” Shahidi told the host broadcaster after winning the toss and electing to bowl first.
For the unversed, the ace leg-spinner won’t be participating in the match due to a lower back injury. Currently under “full medical observation”, he is expected to regain full fitness before the third ODI at the same venue on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka, on the contrary, have made three changes to their Playing XI which had faced New Zealand in Hamilton earlier this year. Apart from the return of former captain Dimuth Karunaratne, the home team has also included a couple of debutants in all-rounder Dushan Hemantha and fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.
