Rashid Khan withdraws from the 13th BBL due to a back issue and will have minor surgery.

The Big Bash League’s (BBL) talisman, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, will miss season 13 because he needs minor back surgery. Due to a back injury, Rashid missed a few one-day internationals (ODIs) against Sri Lanka earlier in the year. He also did not participate in the Men’s Hundred competition in England. He recently participated in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where Afghanistan surprised everyone by qualifying close to the semifinals. After nine matches, the great bowler finished with 11 wickets.

Due to a back issue that would require a small operation, the Adelaide Strikers revealed in a statement that their top player will not be participating in the upcoming BBL season. According to a statement from Strikers, the 25-year-old has “withdrawn from the upcoming BBL 13 due to a back injury that requires a minor operation.”

“After seven years with the Strikers, Rashid Khan is a cherished teammate and a crowd favorite.

He will be sorely missed this summer. According to ESPNcricinfo, Tim Nielsen, the Strikers’ general manager of cricket, Rashid “loves Adelaide and the Strikers, and we know how much he loves playing in the BBL. We support him as he has treatment for this injury to ensure his long-term involvement in the game.”

The Nangarhar native made his BBL debut in December 2017 and has since participated in 69 games, taking 98 wickets at an economy rate of 6.44 and an average of 17.51. Nielsen stated that while they haven’t decided on Rashid Khan replacement for the forthcoming campaign, they will be considering their possibilities in the future. Additionally, he said that for the next few seasons, Rashid’s retention rights will belong to the Strikers.

Rashid Khan is not the only foreign player to withdraw from BBL 13. In order to manage his workload, gifted England hitter Harry Brook, who was scheduled to play for the Melbourne Stars, withdrew from the competition earlier.