Yorkshire’s leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who has not yet played a match for his county in this season’s domestic Twenty20 Cup, is the shock addition to England’s World Twenty20 Cup squad as a replacement for injured all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
The ECB yesterday confirmed that Flintoff would not be fit for June 5 after recent surgery to his right knee, but then sprung a surprise by calling up Rashid.
The 21-year-old has been left out of Yorkshire’s first two 20-over games in the Twenty20 Cup Northern Division, with director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon and captain Anthony McGrath preferring to go with an extra seamer.
“Andrew Flintoff’s bad luck is certainly good news for Adil,” said Moxon, shortly after the out of the blue announcement from the England selectors.
It now seems almost certain that Rashid will play in tomorrow’s Twenty20 clash with Lancashire at Headingley.
Added Moxon: “Myself and Anthony were discussing that at Old Trafford (on Tuesday) before we even knew about Adil’s call-up.”
Rashid will link up with England on Saturday.
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