Rashid Khan picked up an important five wicket haul during the second ODI between Afghanistan and South Africa in Sharjah on September 20, 2024. Despite struggling with a hamstring issue, Rashid knew his performance was crucial if Afghanistan were to achieve a historic series victory. He believed that if he could manage to stay on the field and bowl, he should “go for it.” His determination paid off, as his bowling figures of 9-1-19-5 helped Afghanistan secure their first ever series win against a team ranked in the ICC top five.
Rashid’s Post-Match Thoughts
After Afghanistan’s dominant 177-run win, Rashid shared his thoughts: “I had a hamstring injury before this match, and I had it a month ago too. It’s unfortunate, but I gave my best to stay on the field and help the team. It was a huge opportunity for us as a team to win against a big opponent. I knew my contribution was key, so I had to stay until the end.“
Bowling Stats
Overs
Maidens
Runs
Wickets
Rashid Khan
9
1
19
5
Rashid’s Recent Injury Struggles
Rashid has had his fair share of injuries lately. He missed the final week of the Hundred in August due to a hamstring issue, followed by a back injury during Afghanistan’s domestic T20s. He even missed the one-off Test against New Zealand. This ODI series marks his return to action in longer formats since the 2023 ODI World Cup, after which he had back surgery and was out for four months.
Battling Through the Pain on His Birthday
Rashid’s 26th birthday was on Friday, and his hamstring issue reappeared when he was batting. Coming in the 47th over, he ran two on the first ball and needed the physio’s attention. Even with the pain, he finished unbeaten on 6 off 12 balls. Rashid’s love for the game motivated him to continue, saying, “We had a big chance to win the series against South Africa, and my passion for the game pushed me to play. I thought I could bowl and stay on the field, so why not?”
Rahmat Shah’s Injury Concern
Afghanistan had another injury scare during the match. Half-centurion Rahmat Shah left the field in the 21st over due to what appeared to be cramps, but it was later revealed to be a hamstring issue. However, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is hopeful Rahmat will recover in time for the next match.
Looking Ahead
Afghanistan has already won the series 2-0, but they still have one more ODI to play in Sharjah on Sunday. After that, they will have a short break before an all-format tour of Zimbabwe scheduled for December-January.
