The T20I series, part of the ICC’s future tour programme, was scheduled for August at a neutral venue, but CA said in January it was “postponing the engagement following consultation with the Australian government due to the significant deterioration in women’s human rights”. and girls” in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
“It hurts you,” Rashid told ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, where the Titans will play their next IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. “You want to play against the best teams and there your cricket will improve more and more. You only get a chance to play against them (Australia) in World Cups, not in bilateral series.”
Rashid, who will lead Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup in June, said playing against top-ranked teams would be beneficial for his team’s growth. As an example, Rashid cited the three-match T20I series Afghanistan played against India this January, which they lost 2-1.
“You don’t want to play with my colleagues and you want to play with me. So what’s the difference? It means I’m letting down my colleagues. My country too.”
Rashid Khan is playing in BBL
“As a player you can’t do much about it,” he said. “It’s a problem for governments to solve. But what hurts me the most is when things like that happen, why does it hurt cricket (in Afghanistan)?”
“If there is something (in the hands of governments), why does it harm cricket? Why does it come to cricket? Can cricket solve those problems? If cricket solves those problems, I think it would be good, then I am happy. .”
Rashid stressed that cricket was a “source of happiness” for Afghanistan and something Australia needed to understand.
“Cricket is the only source of happiness for people in Afghanistan,” he said. “And if you’re taking that joy (away) from people, you’re hurting more people back home. And I think it hurts more as a captain, where you’re so excited as a young player. Against Australia and then this thing happens.
Rashid on BBL: ‘Nothing is bigger than my country’
Last year, Rashid had threatened to withdraw from the BBL, but he changed his mind and entered the BBL draft before he had to undergo back surgery before missing the tournament. Rashid said CA’s latest move has again forced him to reconsider his stance on participating in the BBL, representing Adelaide Strikers since 2016-17.
“A lot of things come to mind,” he said. “If you don’t want to play against my team, why do you want me to play in your country? Because I’m not allowed to play cricket in your country.
“You don’t want to play with my colleagues and you want to play with me? So what’s the difference? It means I’m putting my colleagues down as well. I’m also putting my country down. So if I’m playing there, if money comes in these things, nothing is bigger than my country and it doesn’t matter.
“If they play with us and we play against them, that’s the only way we can play there. That’s the only solution to solve this problem.”
Nagaraja Gollapudi is the News Editor at ESPNcricinfo