India-England series: Adil Rashid slams Vaughan for questioning his selection

England spinner Adil Rashid lashed out at former skipper Michael Vaughan for questioning his selection to the English team for the five-match Test series against India.

Rashid had signed a white-ball-only contract with the Yorkshire county club, which meant he would only be available for ODIs and T20s, Rashid, 30, was named in a 13-man squad for the first Test against India beginning August 1. Vaughan had taken to Twitter to question the decision and termed it 'ridiculous'. Rashid hit back calling Vaughan's comments 'stupid' and that they “do not matter”.

"He (Vaughan) can say a lot and he thinks people might listen, but I don't think they do," Rashid told BBC Sport.

"There has been a lot of hoo-ha. I don't see what the big deal is, with people talking about me being retired. I didn't say anything about retirement, which some pundits have said.

"It was not an easy decision, but when your country wants you and asks if you are available, you cannot just say no," Rashid said.

Vaughan took to Twitter again to respond to Rashid's comments.

Rashid, who played his last Test against India in December 2016, has been in red-hot form with the white ball this summer, taking 20 wickets. He played a stellar role in England's ODI series wins over Australia and India.

Rashid's selection shocked Yorkshire chief executive Mark Arthur, who took a dig at the selectors for picking him in the squad.

"We're very surprised that England have called Adil up after not playing red ball cricket this season," Arthur said. "Neither has he (Rashid) expressed a desire to do so. I hope that England know what they're doing to Adil, and the county game," Arthur said.

However, England national selector Ed Smith defended the move and said that Rashid had confirmed his availability before the selection committee and that keeping in view his ODI form, a unanimous decision was made by the panel.

"Before the selection meeting, Adil had confirmed his availability to play Test cricket for England for the whole of this summer and the upcoming winter tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies," Smith was quoted as saying.

"Clearly, the one-off circumstances around Adil's return to the Test squad are unusual. However, the selection panel was unanimous in believing that Adil should be selected in England's squad," he added.

Rashid has taken 38 wickets in 10 Tests for England with at an average of 42.78. Incidentally, it was Vaughan who presented Rashid with his first Test cap in 2015.

(With agency inputs)