Rashid Khan opts out from upcoming Pakistan Super League 2024

The entire cricketing fans are waiting to see the star Afghanistan spinner, Rashid Khan back in action but as per latest update on his injury is that he has recently withdrawn from the Pakistan Super League (PKL) that is slated to begin from February 17. Rashid Khan's latest international appearance was on November 10, 2023, in an ODI World Cup match against South Africa.

After the prestigious tournament, he underwent lower-back surgery in the UK and has been absent from competitive cricket since. Despite accompanying the Afghanistan team to India for a three-match T20I series, fitness issues prevented Rashid Khan from participating, keeping him on the sidelines throughout. The 25-year-old, associated with the Lahore Qalandars for the past three seasons and a two-time titleholder in 2022 and 2023, will not be part of the team as he focuses on his rehabilitation.

Rashid Khan has been a part of Lahore Qalandars for the last three PSL seasons, winning titles in 2022 and 2023. Despite being retained by the franchise in the 'silver' salary bracket before December's draft, with the expectation of his unavailability for the 2024 edition, he has officially withdrawn from the tournament to focus on rehabilitation after undergoing surgery in November. As a result, Lahore Qalandars will have the opportunity to acquire a replacement player in the supplementary and replacement draft, scheduled to be conducted virtually on Monday, as confirmed by the PCB.

 We don’t want to rush him back from that type of surgery: Jonathan Trott

Rashid Khan had already opted out of other franchise tournaments has priorly decided to skip PSL 2024, such as the Big Bash League and SA20 due to his recovery from surgery. Afghanistan's head coach, Jonathan Trott, stressed the significance of avoiding haste in Rashid's return. Despite his absence from PSL, there are reports suggesting that Rashid is anticipated to regain fitness in time for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).

"It is a case of us making sure that we are really careful with his back. He is such an influential player: we have to make sure he is 100% ready and not rush him back from that type of surgery… when he is ready, he will be the first one to get on the field. He has got a few more appointments and check-ups to make sure everything is OK, so there is no real time-frame. I hope it is sooner rather than later, but there is no pressure and no rush," Trott said as reported by ESPNcricinfo.