Rashid Khan sits out the Sharjah Test as Afghanistan keep the door open on his red-ball return

Afghanistan have left Rashid Khan out of their two-match Test series against Zimbabwe on medical advice, and captain Rahmat Shah says the leg-spinner will be back in the longest format once he is fully fit

The first Test began at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Zimbabwe winning the toss and choosing to bat, with Afghanistan taking the field without the bowler who has shaped their cricket for a decade.

Rashid Khan has played just six Tests, against more than 245 appearances across the white-ball formats, and has been unavailable in the red-ball game while he manages a back problem and the workload that comes with it.

Rahmat Shah, who leads the side in the format, said the call came from the medical staff rather than the selectors. Ibrahim Zadran is also missing from the Test squad.

Medical staff advise against a return

"Talking about Rashid, it has been recommended by the team medical staff and physio trainers that he should not be playing Test games at the moment because he is still not ready," Rahmat said ahead of the series.

"We cannot risk losing Rashid for white-ball cricket: he is such an important player. I am praying he gets better soon, and he loves Test cricket," he said.

"However, if his body is not allowing it and based on the reports from the doctors and medical team we wouldn't take a risk," he added.

A workload question rather than a form one

Rahmat was clear that the issue is what five days would ask of a bowler with a history of back trouble, not what Rashid would bring to the attack.

"He's our main spinner and if he gets in the team, definitely when there's a long partnership, I will ask him to come and bowl regularly a lot," the captain said.

"It will be load on him (in Tests) because in short formats, in T20, it's only three-hour game and a bowler will ball only four overs," he said. "But in Tests, there is a lot of workload and as per Rashid physio, he has to manage his workload due to his back injury in the past."

Still part of the plan

Afghanistan have not closed the door, and Rahmat said the conversation has involved the player and the board directly.

"I've had personal discussions with him and the ACB and as soon as he gets ready and 100 per cent fit, he will obviously be part of the Test squad," he said.

Until then the spin load in Sharjah falls to the slower bowlers around him, on a surface that has historically rewarded them.

Afghanistan arrive after a famous draw

Afghanistan's previous Test, against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi last month, ended in a draw they had to earn over a full final day.

Sediqullah Atal made a maiden Test hundred, 111 from 332 balls, and Afghanistan finished on 346 for 8 with Bangladesh unable to take the last two wickets in 142 overs of bowling.

Qais Ahmad, unbeaten on 49, struck a six off the final ball of the match. Rahmat made 51 in the same innings.

Zimbabwe bat first in Sharjah

Zimbabwe are led by Brian Bennett for this series, with Richard Ngarava unavailable, and chose to bat after winning the toss on the opening morning.

Graeme Cremer returns to their Test squad after several years away, and the batting is bolstered by Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor.

Neither side is part of the current World Test Championship cycle, which gives the two matches an unusual shape: a series played for its own sake, and for the case each board is making as the championship looks at expanding.

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe return to the same ground for the second Test, which starts on 13 November.

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