England Spinner Rashid Declines Ashes Call-Up, Plans White-Ball Career

England's veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid, aged 37, has expressed his intention to continue playing international white-ball cricket potentially until the age of 40 or beyond. Rashid has been a key figure in England's white-ball successes, including the 2019 50-over World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup, and recently took nine wickets in the ODI series against South Africa. Despite his longevity and ongoing performance, he has chosen not to return to Test cricket, having last played in January 2019, and is comfortable turning down any Ashes call-up, unlike his friend Moeen Ali who returned for the 2023 Ashes. Rashid prefers to focus on one game at a time without setting long-term deadlines, emphasizing the importance of fitness and form in prolonging his career. He believes the upcoming spinners in England are well-prepared for the longer formats, thus reinforcing his decision to concentrate solely on white-ball cricket. As England prepares for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Rashid aims to help the team secure a series win against South Africa in the ongoing T20 matches.