London, June 24: England will be without the services of Adil Rashid in next month’s white-ball series against India as the leg-spinner has received clearance from the country’s cricket board (ECB) to make Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Rashid, a practising Muslim, will fly to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, which means he will also miss the latter stages of Yorkshire’s T20 Blast campaign.
“I’ve been wanting to do it for a little while but I’ve found it pretty difficult with the timings. This year, I felt as though it was something that I had to do, and something I wanted to do as well,” Rashid told ESPNcricinfo.
India take on hosts England in a white-ball series, including three T20Is and as many ODIs from July 7 to 17.
Rashid is expected to miss all six games as he is likely to return in mid-July. (PTI)
