Afghanistan registered a historic 21-run victory over Australia in their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match in St Vincent on Sunday (June 23).
After the match, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan was asked if the win was even sweeter considering the fact that Australia have held a firm stance on not playing his team in a bilateral series.
In response, Rashid said in the post-match presser: “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 you 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.”
In January last year, Australia had pulled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in UAE, citing Taliban's crackdown on women’s freedom.
Earlier this year, Cricket Australia announced the postponement of the three-match T20I series versus Afghanistan scheduled for August 2024 due to human rights issues.
In a statement, CA had said it would, “continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country.”
Commenting on this 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 acknowledged the overwhelming love and support he had received on the tours of Australia over the years.
“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,” he remarked.
Talking about 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’s next Super 8 match is scheduled against Bangladesh and they have a real shot at making to their first-ever T20 World Cup semi-final this time around.
