New Delhi: Afghanistan cricket's 'poster boy' Rashid Khan will not play Test cricket shortly to rest his back for which he underwent surgery last year. An Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) source told PTI that Rashid and the team management have mutually decided to take a break from the longer format of cricket due to his back problem.

He is out of the test against New Zealand

Earlier this week, he was not selected in the starting team for the only Test against New Zealand starting September 9 in Greater Noida. Rashid underwent back surgery after the ODI World Cup in India in October-November and was out of action for four months after that. He was recently part of the T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies, where he captained Afghanistan to the semi-finals.

Will be away from Test cricket for a year

25-year-old Rashid recently played three matches in the Shpageeza T20 League in Kabul and took a total of six wickets. The source said, 'Rashid planned to gradually increase his workload after the surgery. Not playing the long format for the next six months to a year was also part of the plan. In Tests, he will have to bowl from one end and his back is not ready for such a workload. He should be available for the ODI series against South Africa next month.'

Rashid has played five Tests for Afghanistan

Rashid has played five Tests, 103 ODIs, and 93 T20 matches for Afghanistan. He also suffered a hamstring injury during 'The Hundred' in the US earlier this month. The Afghanistan team is already in Greater Noida, its home ground, and has started preparing for the Test against New Zealand.