KABUL: Afghanistan bowler Naveed Zadran will miss next week’s Test mat­ch against New Zealand with a side strain injury, the Afghan cricket board said on Friday.

The 19-year-old, who has taken nine wickets in his two Tests, has been told to rest for three to four weeks in the hope of recovering before this month’s One-day International series against South Africa, the board posted on X.

All-rounder Rashid Khan has also been ruled out with a back injury.

Afghanistan, who play their home matches outside the country, will host New Zealand in a one-off Test in India from Monday, before playing three ODIs against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates starting Sept. 18.

New Zealand, meanwhile, have added former Sri Lanka spinner Ran­gana Herath and India’s ex-batting coach Vikram Rathour to their coaching staff on Friday for their upcoming three Test matches in Asia, including two against Sri Lanka.

After playing Afghani­stan in Greater Noida, near Delhi, they will fly out to the island country for the Tests in Galle.

Herath was roped as spin-bowling coach Saqlain Mushtaq left to take over a mentor’s role in new domestic competitions introduced by the Pakistan Cricket Board this season.

After the series in Sri Lanka, New Zealand will return to India to play three Tests against Rohit Sharma and his men.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...
Tax amendments
Updated 20 Dec, 2024

Tax amendments

Bureaucracy gimmicks have not produced results, will not do so in the future.
Cricket breakthrough
20 Dec, 2024

Cricket breakthrough

IT had been made clear to Pakistan that a Champions Trophy without India was not even a distant possibility, even if...
Troubled waters
20 Dec, 2024

Troubled waters

LURCHING from one crisis to the next, the Pakistani state has been consistent in failing its vulnerable citizens....