Rashid Khan Out Of New Zealand Game After Failing Concussion Test

Afghanistan star Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the ongoing World Cup clash against New Zealand in Taunton. The leg-spinner did not come out to field after being bowled by Lockie Ferguson. He has failed a concussion test after receiving a blow to the head when batting. Rashid was struck on the head when he was dismissed by Lockie Ferguson for zero. He  will have a second concussion test within the next hour.

The incident occurred in the 34th over of Afghanistan’s innings. Rashid ducked right into a short ball after committing to the frontfoot. He tried fending with his bat but the ball went on to hit him on the helmet grille before going on to the hit the ground and eventually the stumps. The New Zealand players and Rashid’s partner soon ran towards him before he walked off looking visibly shaken.

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New laws allow teams to replace a player who has a concussion or a suspected concussion while tests are carried out. A player who has been struck on the head will undergo a five-minute on-field assessment and, if there are concerns, they will leave the pitch before a liason officer makes a decision on their replacement. Rashid, however, did not come out to field and is now out of the contest.

The leg-spinner is the second player this World Cup to suffer such blow. South Africa’s Hashim Amla had suffered a similar blow against England and had walked off the field. He, however, had come out to bat later although he missed the next clash.

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Missing Rashid, meanwhile, will be a big blow for Afghanistan as they would have desperately needed his services after a batting failure. Afghanistan were all out for just 172 and are looking set to suffer their third straight loss this World Cup.