Adil Rashid has defended his request to be left out of Yorkshire’s final County Championship match of the season, with the England spinner citing “personal reasons” for his absence.
The 28-year-old will not feature in the potential title decider against Middlesex, which begins at Lord’s on Tuesday, after asking the coach Jason Gillespie if he could be excused because he needed to rest ahead of England’s tour to Bangladesh. Gillespie, who is taking charge of his final match, admitted on Sunday that he was “frustrated” by Rashid’s decision. But in a statement posted on his Twitter account on Monday, Rashid insisted the main reason was that a family member had also been admitted to hospital.
“Unfortunately I have not travelled down with the Yorkshire lads this week as one of my closest family members has been very ill and was recently admitted to hospital,” read the statement. “I didn’t feel that I am in a strong enough mental frame of mind to be at my best, although I did make myself available if I was required to play [if] I felt I could be letting the lads down. But coupled with my personal reasons I have also had a heavy period of cricket recently for Yorkshire and England which has been both physically and mentally draining and it is very unfortunate timing.
“Family comes first for me and I will be away on England duty this winter with a busy playing schedule. I have been in touch with the Yorkshire players and coaches and I will be wishing the lads all the best this game and I am desperately hoping we can lift the trophy for a 3rd year in a row.”
— Adil Rashid (@AdilRashid03) September 19, 2016
On Sunday, Andrew Gale, the Yorkshire captain, posted on Twitter: “Training all done, head down to Lords [sic] tomorrow, can’t wait. This squad is ready to run through a brick wall for the county. Yes, he wants to rest. That’s his decision. I’ll take 11 lads on the field who will give everything to win.”
