Afghanistan star Rashid Khan has posed a question to Australia around previous decisions to withdraw from matches after his side’s victory in the T20 World Cup.
Khan was in an ecstatic mood after Afghanistan’s first ever victory over the cricketing heavyweights declaring, “I won’t be able to sleep”.
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CA’s reason for the decision is down to politics in Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021.
The governing body declared there would be no bilateral series against Afghanistan until there are “improved conditions for women and girls”.
Rashid Khan during his press conference after Afghanistan defeated Australia. Sports Day
CA had made a similar decision for a one-off Test against Afghanistan in November 2021.
There was also a three-match ODI series last year which Australia withdrew from.
Khan has been one of the biggest voices objecting to CA’s call, previously signalling his intention to withdraw from the BBL.
The leg-spinner was asked post-match if the satisfaction of beating Australia was heightened by CA’s previous decisions.
While responding diplomatically, Khan spoke of the importance of cricket for his people back home.
“We are sportsmen, we love sports, people back home love sports and I mentioned earlier cricket is the only source of happiness back home. That’s the only source left in Afghanistan where people can celebrate, if we keep that source away from us as well I don’t know where Afghanistan will remain,” he said.
“… Once you take this source of happiness away from us, it’s going to be hard for us. We the sportsmen, we only think about the cricket. People all the time are saying sport brings the nation together.
“For me, we are happy to play against any side, and that’s the only way our cricket can improve day by day.
“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 and I wish there was solution for it but I don’t know what’s the solution for that … we’re happy to play any side but these political things, I don’t know much about these things, and I don’t like it as well, so I have no answer for this.”
Khan went on to speak of his love for playing big teams and travelling overseas. The 25-year-old said he’s received significant love and support from Australian Big Bash fans, particularly in 2019 when he was in Australia and his father passed away.
“I have so many fans there but as I said, I love to play everywhere around the world and those things that are not under our control, and cricket is not the solution, I don’t think we can bring sports into that,” he said.
“If there is another solution you can take that, but 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.”