PSL 2024: Huge Blow For Lahore Qalandars As Rashid Khan Ruled Out Of Season 9

Afghanistan superstar Rashid Khan is likely to miss the upcoming ninth season of the Pakistan Super League as well as he continues his recovery after undergoing a lower-back surgery.

The leg-spinner has not played a competitive match since November. His last appearance came during Afghanistan’s final league game in the ODI World Cup when they locked horns against South Africa on November 10. Soon after the competition ended, he had to undergo a minor lower back surgery in the UK.

Due to the surgery, he had to miss the ongoing Big Bash League in Australia. Rashid Khan was set to ply his trade for Adelaide Strikers in the competition. The back surgery also ruled him out of the three-match T20I series against the UAE as well as the ongoing SA20 where he was to play for MI Cape Town.

Rashid Khan set to miss PSL 2024:

Rashid Khan was expected to recover in time for the ongoing three-match T20I series against India and was also named in the squad. However, he was ruled out of the series just before the first game. In his absence, Ibrahim Zadran is leading the team in the historic series.

And his participation in PSL 2024 is also looking highly doubtful, according to a report in Cricket Pakistan. The ninth edition of the PSL is scheduled to get underway on February 17. Rashid Khan is a part of defending champions Lahore Qalandars’ squad. With the T20 World Cup scheduled in June, the star bowler would undoubtedly be cautious not to take any risks and rush his return to action.

Recently, Afghanistan head coach Jonathon Trott delivered an update on the bowler, saying:

“It is a case of us making sure that we are really careful with his back. He is such an influential player, we have to make sure he is 100% ready and not rush him back from that type of surgery. It is important to give him the right time and he is working extremely hard and he is here with the team

“He is very passionate and dedicated to the Afghan national side. When he is ready, he will be the first one to get on the field. He has got a few more appointments and check-ups to make sure everything is okay. So there is no real time frame. I hope it is sooner rather than later. But there is no pressure and no rush,” he further added.