Rashid reflects on injury comeback
Rashid Khan has opened up about the challenges of returning to competitive cricket too soon after undergoing back surgery, conceding that the decision left him struggling for form and fitness. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, the Afghanistan leg-spinner admitted he failed to give himself adequate rehab time and pushed his body beyond its limits.
“After IPL, I needed the kind of break where my body gets back to normal. I worked a little bit on my strength. And especially coming back from back surgery, I hadn’t had much time to rehab properly. That’s where I did a bit of mistake to restart my cricket so quickly at that time,” Rashid said.
“And I feel like I didn’t let myself properly recover, and I pushed it a little bit at that time, and I can see the disadvantage of that now. But after IPL (2025), I felt like I needed that kind of two months off where I can just focus on my fitness,” he added.
The 25-year-old’s decision to play the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in January — just eight to nine months after surgery — proved a turning point. He bowled 55 overs across two innings, claiming 11 wickets and earning Player of the Match honours, but the physical toll was severe.
“When I came back to cricket after surgery, I was told not to rush back in the longer formats (Tests and ODIs) that quickly as that was not going to help me. About eight to nine months after I had started to play post surgery, I bowled 65 (55) overs in the Bulawayo Test. That really pushed my back a little bit, and I felt it at that time. I shouldn’t have been in whites (to play Tests),” Rashid said.
Break and recovery bring back rhythm
After a difficult IPL 2025 campaign, Rashid skipped the Major League Cricket season in the USA to focus on his lower-back strength and general conditioning. For three weeks, he stayed away from cricket entirely.
“After IPL finished, for three weeks, I didn’t touch the ball. I spent most of my time with my family, (and) my nephews – going around with them, (and) had fun – just to take all those memories and stuff and bad days out of my mind, and then restart with the cricket. That’s what I did just to be refreshed, and then got back on track and got back bowling in the right spot,” he said.
When he returned to action in The Hundred, Rashid immediately felt the difference.
“And when I came yesterday [on Tuesday], I felt so good, in a good rhythm, and the ball was coming nicely out of my hand, and [my] body was allowing me to go through. So these things matter a lot – sometimes you don’t think about that a lot; you just try your best to push yourself. But I feel to be out of the game for some time and focus on my fitness – and also [focus] mentally and physically – that really played a huge role.”
“On Tuesday, I was bowling at 94-98 kph – that’s my pace, [and the] speeds I am known to bowl at. I feel I was missing that before because my body was not allowing me to go through [my action] with that full energy. Last night, [against Spirit], when I came to bowl, I was getting that good feeling, and I was touching that speed with which I could put the batsman in trouble, and also not allow him much time to read from the surface.”
For now, Rashid plans to manage his workload carefully, especially in the longer formats.
“In T20s, it’s fine – you can manage yourself – but for the longer formats, I was advised that you should be away from that format for some time. That is the kind of mistake I have made. But the team needed that. At that time, we had lost a few games in Test cricket, but that’s something where I rushed myself a little bit, and I didn’t give myself time and I felt it later on. Yes, I think I have done a mistake where my body was not allowing me that and I’m facing a problem. The thing is the stiffness in your back doesn’t allow you to go with full rhythm.”
Cherishing rare home matches
Last month, Rashid enjoyed 12 days of cricket at Kabul’s Alakozay Stadium during the Shpageeza Cricket League — a rare chance to play in Afghanistan, where he has appeared in only a fraction of his career matches. As he told The Times, the experience was deeply special.
“We hardly play any games at home so to go there and see the happiness on their faces is great. It’s massive for the young generation to see their players on the ground. They always watch on TV.”
“They were big, they’re always big, they love watching us play. The capacity [of the stadium] was not that big, but outside there were double or triple the number of people waiting. I was there for a week and there wasn’t a day when there weren’t people everywhere you go. They want pictures, they want selfies. The love you get is unbelievable.”
“When you see the people back home in Afghanistan and the love they have for this game, that just keeps me going. I have to give them that happiness when we win. When I played the other day [at Lord’s], they all celebrated. They were cheering for me. It’s the only source of happiness., That’s something which keeps me going, keeps me motivated, keeps me full of energy. I want to deliver something special for my team and the people.”
“To play Test cricket against England at Lord’s is more than a dream. It would be the same feeling as winning a World Cup. Everyone wants to play Test cricket there.”
“It’s a big decision for me, how much Test cricket I should play. It’s not that I don’t like the format, it’s my body condition. When I was younger I had no issues. Now I have to be selective.”
Rashid also paid tribute to head coach Jonathan Trott for his role in Afghanistan’s rise.
“He has done so much for the cricket of Afghanistan. He has brought the team together regardless of many issues. He kept everyone cool and together and a lot of credit goes to him for his hard work and dedication. We were talented but we needed someone like him to guide us in the right way.”
