Rashid Khan celebrates an Australian wicket alongwith his teammates during Afghanistan’s Super-8 match on Sunday. (ICC)
After his team’s big win against Australia in T20 World Cup Super-8 fixture on Sunday, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan was asked if the win was even sweeter given the fact that Australia have held a firm stance on not playing his team in a bilateral series.
“We the sportsmen, we love sports. People back home love sports. Cricket is the only source of happiness back home. That’s the only source in Afghanistan where people can celebrate. And if we keep that source away from us as well, I don’t know what will remain of Afghanistan. Now a days, all around the world, if you go anywhere and tell them if you are from Afghanistan, the first thing they will say is any of the cricketer’s name. But once you take that source of happiness as well from us, I think it will be very hard for us,” Rashid said in the post-match press conference.
Cricket Australia has denied playing against Afghanistan men’s national team in a bilateral series since the Taliban regime took over control of the nation in 2021, denying the women of right to education as well as playing sport.
Earlier this year, the board had postponed a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan scheduled for August, stating it won’t be playing any bilateral cricket with the latter until “improved conditions for women and girls”.
On Sunday, when asked to speak on the matter, Rashid stated, “Something which isn’t under the control, we can’t do anything about it. We wish we could do something. If there was a solution for it, we’d have been happy. But I don’t know what’s the solution for it. I don’t know much about political things, and I don’t even like it. If we play in a World Cup, why don’t we play in a bilateral series?”
The leg-spinner added that in his tours of Australia, he had received overwhelming support by the local fans, even in his toughest hours.
“Whenever I go to Australia in Big Bash (League), I have got so much love and support from the fans there. Even in 2022 World Cup, when we were playing in Adelaide in Australia, I got more support than them. And that was so satisfying. Playing in Australia, and I’m from Afghanistan, getting that support. In 2019, when my dad passed away, it was the hardest time for me and I was in Australia. The amount of love I got from the team and the fans, I call them a family,” Rashid added.
On the significance of Sunday’s result back home, Rashid said, “It gives people back home so much hope. Especially the new generation, who are getting involved in cricket and sports.
“I don’t care about how many wickets I take – one or five – but when I see those people have those smiles and celebrating back home in every street in Afghanistan, that gives me so much energy and also motivates me for the upcoming games, so that I and we as a team can make them more proud.”
Afghanistan next play Bangladesh in the Super-8 and have a real shot at making to their first-ever World Cup semifinal.
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