Afghanistan have suffered a major setback ahead of the upcoming one-off Test against India. Reports suggest that star spinner Rashid Khan, top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran, and Zia Akbar are likely to miss the red-ball fixture due to medical advice, leaving the visitors without some of their most experienced players.
Team India will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test match starting on June 6. The red-ball fixture will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Gill will lead the Indian side for the series, which will not be part of the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran Ruled Out of India vs Afghanistan One-Off Test
According to local reports from Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran, and Zia Akbar will not be part of the squad for the Test match against India. The three players will miss the match after consulting their medical team.
Doctors have advised the cricketers to take a break from red-ball cricket and fully recover from their respective injuries before returning to international action across formats. The absence of these key players is a massive setback for Afghanistan.
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Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran are among the most important players in the squad. Without them, the Afghanistan team management will face a difficult task in putting together a competitive playing XI for the tough conditions in India.
Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran and Zia Akbar will not be considered for selection for the one off test against India. Sources at ACB tell me “the trio is advised by doctors to rest from Red-Ball cricket for the time being, due to ongoing treatment”
— Bashir Gharwal غروال (@bashir_gharwall) May 24, 2026
Huge blow!#AfghanistanCricket… pic.twitter.com/q56XaBbwyU
Afghanistan Set to Miss Key Experienced Players for One-Off Test Against India
The sidelined trio have a combined experience of 18 Test matches. Despite the relatively small number, they remain among the most experienced red-ball players in Afghanistan cricket. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah have played 11 Test appearances each.
Wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai has played nine Tests. Ibrahim Zadran has featured in eight matches, while Rashid Khan has played six Tests. Zia Akbar has appeared in four matches, showing the limited red-ball experience within the current Afghanistan setup.
The unavailable players also hold decent records in Test cricket. Rashid Khan has taken 45 wickets in six matches. Ibrahim Zadran has scored 602 runs in eight Tests, while Zia Akbar has picked up 11 wickets in four appearances for the national team.
India Announce Second-String Bowling Attack for Afghanistan One-Off Test
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming one-off Test. The management decided to rest premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the match.
With Jasprit Bumrah rested, Mohammed Siraj will lead a new-look pace attack. The bowling group also includes domestic performers like Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, and Gurnoor Brar.
The batting unit remains mostly unchanged from recent international series. Young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Devdutt Padikkal have retained their spots. All-rounder Washington Sundar also remains part of the squad.
