Afghanistan’s star spinner, Rashid Khan, will be absent from the team’s first two matches in the three-ODI series against Sri Lanka as he recovers from a lower back injury.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed that Rashid Khan is expected to return for the final match of the series after receiving full medical observation during his recovery period.

The three-match series is scheduled to begin on 2 June, and all matches will take place at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota.

According to the team’s physio, Rashid will remain under close medical supervision and is likely to be available for the third ODI on 7 June.

Rashid recently played a significant role for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he emerged as the joint second-highest wicket-taker with 27 wickets. Despite his contributions, the Titans fell short in the final against the Chennai Super Kings.

In Rashid’s absence, Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the Afghan side in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, relying on the skills of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi to compensate for Rashid’s absence.

Following the Sri Lanka series, Afghanistan will embark on a tour of Bangladesh, starting with a one-off Test in Chattogram on 14 June.

The ODI series against Sri Lanka holds significance for the hosts as they prepare for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka has named a strong 15-member squad for the Afghanistan series, with the return of Dimuth Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, and Sadeera Samarawickrama to the ODI setup after an extended absence.

As part of Group B in the Qualifiers, the former World Cup champions will face Ireland, Scotland, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, with their first match scheduled against the UAE on 19 June.