Bangladesh vs Afghanistan: Rashid Khan creates history, breaks 15-year-old world record

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan added a new feather to his cap when he walked out for the toss against Bangladesh in the one-off Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday. Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first.

Also Read: Irfan Pathan names ‘the most important cricketer’ of Indian team

Afghanistan named Rashid Khan as their all-format skipper following a disastrous World Cup campaign in England and Wales earlier this year. The leg-spinner on Thursday etched his name in history books as the youngest Test captain ever.

Rashid surpassed Tatenda Taibu’s record which the Zimbabwean set in 2004. Taibu first led Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in 2004 at Harare.

Also Read: After 5 months, Ambati Rayudu explains his 3-D tweet; reacts on World Cup snub

Youngest Test captains

20y 350d: Rashid Khan (AFG)

20y 358d: Tatenda Taibu (ZIM)

21y 77d: Nawab of Pataudi (IND)

22y 15d: Waqar Younis (PAK)

22y 82d: Graeme Smith (SA)

22y 115d: Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)

“(I am) pretty excited. It is a new role to be a captain of the team and will try my best to be positive and enjoy the game,” Rashid told reporters last Friday after the arrival of his team in Chittagong.

Also Read: Misbah named Pakistan head coach and chief selector; Waqar appointed bowling coach

The Afghan side has been through turmoil in recent months. In April 2019, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named Rahmat Shah as Test captain, replacing Asghar Afghan, who led the side in their first two Test matches.

But Rashid’s appointment as Test captain after the World Cup means Shah was removed before he took charge of a match. They are up against a side who have won five of their last 10 Tests at home, including one each against England and Australia.

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Ihsanullah Janat, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Afsar Zazai(w), Rashid Khan(c), Yamin Ahmadzai, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mahmudullah, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan

((With agency inputs))