Hashmatullah Shahidi confident despite Rashid Khan's absence in NZ Test
What's the story
The Afghanistan cricket team is gearing up to face New Zealand in a one-off Test match, without their star leg-spinner Rashid Khan. The match is set to take place in Greater Noida, India on Monday. Khan, who has claimed 34 wickets in just five Tests, will not be joining the team due to a back injury that has kept him out of the longest format for nearly a year.
Optimistic outlook
Shahidi sees opportunity for young players in Khan's absence
Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, acknowledged the impact of Khan's absence on the team. However, he also highlighted this as an opportunity for young players to make their mark in world cricket. "It's tough to miss players like Rashid because he did very well in the past in Tests," Shahidi said during a pre-match press conference on Sunday. He added that they have more talented guys and it's an opportunity for them to make their names known globally.
Team selection
Afghanistan's spin options for the upcoming Test
For the upcoming Test match against New Zealand, Afghanistan have several spinners to consider including Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmed, Zia-ur-Rehman and Shams Ur Rahman. Among these players, Zahir is the most experienced with 11 wickets in five Tests. Qais and Zia have both played two games each, taking three and six wickets respectively. Shams is an uncapped player who has been added to the squad for this match.
Faith
Shahidi expresses confidence in young spinners
Despite their international inexperience, Shahidi expressed confidence in the young spinners based on their domestic records. He stated that these players are capable of handling pressure well. "It will be a lack of experience, but when it comes to taking challenges, we are a nation that does not take a step backwards," he said. He further added that they have talented players who can perform well in every department and some even have hundreds of First-Class wickets to their credit.
Development needs
Shahidi calls for more Test cricket opportunities
Shahidi emphasized the need for more opportunities to play Test cricket, to further hone their skills. He expressed his belief that his team has the potential to compete with top-tier teams globally. "If you look at Test cricket, we are new in this format -- we need more experience," Shahidi told reporters at the Greater Noida ground. He added that as a team and country, they are brave people who accept challenges and will improve with more chances in future.