Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has once again implored Cricket Australia to reconsider withdrawing from future bilateral series against the Asian nation following this weekend’s T20 World Cup triumph in Kingstown.
Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign is in jeopardy after Mitchell Marsh’s side suffered a 21-run loss to Afghanistan at St Vincent’s Arnos Vale Ground on Sunday morning AEST.
It was Afghanistan’s first victory over the Australians in any format, with thousands of fans celebrating the historic moment on the streets back home.
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“It’s a massive win for us — as a team, as a nation,” Khan said during the post-match press conference.
“Beating a team like that always gives you so much energy.
“It gives the people back home so much hope. Especially for the younger generation, getting them involved in cricket.
“Cricket is the only source of happiness back home, and we are so lucky to be here giving them that happiness.
“That is something that gives me so much energy and motivates me for the upcoming games.”
Afghanistan’s victory was no fluke — Khan’s side outclassed Australia in every facet of the game, including running between the wickets, outfield catching and ground fielding.
Since winning its first World Cup match in 2015, the Afghanistan men’s cricket team has become a source of pride for the war-torn country, slowly developing from a second-tier associate side to a white-ball powerhouse.
After defeating the likes of Pakistan and England during last year’s World Cup in India, Afghanistan has cruised to victory against New Zealand and Australia in the Caribbean this month to once again prove they are genuine title contenders.
“Our journey starts now,” Afghanistan bowler Gulbadin Naib said during the post-match presentation.
“In the last ten years, we achieved a lot of goals, so this is a big achievement in our cricket. It’s a great moment, not only for me, but my nation, my people.”
Earlier this year, CA postponed a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan scheduled for August, maintaining its stance not to play bilateral cricket against the nation until there were “improved conditions for women and girls”.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the oppressive Islamic fundamentalists have gradually chipped away at the rights of women and girls — university education for girls has been suspended indefinitely, along with playing sport, while women have also been banned from gyms, public baths and parks.
Many of the nation’s female athletes were forced to flee the country, with 22 of Afghanistan’s contracted women’s cricketers currently residing in Australia. Afghanistan remains the only ICC full member nation without a functioning women’s team, a key criteria for ICC membership.
CA cancelled a one-off Test against Afghanistan in November 2021 along with last year’s three-match ODI series, but Australia has continued facing Afghanistan at ICC events, including the 2022 T20 World Cup on home soil and last year’s World Cup in India.
Afghanistan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq, who claimed three wickets during Sunday’s victory in Kingstown, taunted CA on social media ahead of last year’s World Cup match at Wankhede Stadium.
“Refusing to play the bilateral series, now it will be interesting to see Cricket Australia stand up in the World Cup,” he posted to Instagram at the time.
“Human rights, or two points?”
Khan has on several occasions voiced his frustration with CA’s decision, threatening to withdraw from next summer’s Big Bash League unless the organisation changed its stance. The 25-year-old is the Adelaide Strikers’ leading wicket-taker in BBL history with 98 scalps at 17.51 with an economy of 6.44.
“Sport brings the nation together,” Khan told reporters on Sunday.
“We are happy to play against any side, and that’s the only way our cricket can improve.
“Some things are not under the control of anyone in cricket, and that’s something we can’t do anything about.
“I wish we could do something … but I don’t know the solution.
“These political things, I don’t know much about, and I don’t like it as well, so I have no answer for this.
“Those things that are not under our control, and I don’t think we can bring sports into that … I don’t think cricket is the solution of politics.
“If we play in a World Cup, why don’t we play in a bilateral series?
“We are happy to play against the best sides, we learn from them, we get better day by day, but that’s the only thing I can say.”
Afghanistan will next face Bangladesh at Arnos Vale Ground on Tuesday morning, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEST.