Afghanistan T20 team captain Rashid Khan has decided to withdraw from the upcoming season of Big Bash League. This is the second consecutive year when Rashid will not participate in this tournament. Rashid’s name is not in the player draft for the tournament. The draft for the new season of Big Bash is to be held on 1st September.
…So this is why Rashid is out!
Rashid Khan may have taken this decision due to the stubborn stance of Cricket Australia (CA). Under the ICC’s Future Tour Programme, a three-match T20 series was proposed between Australia and Afghanistan this month. Afghanistan was to host this series, but Australia had pulled back.
Cricket Australia had said that the human rights of women and girls are being violated under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Because of this his team will not play bilateral series against Afghanistan. CA chief executive Nick Hockley had said that there have been regular discussions with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on the matter and it is hoped that the two teams will start playing each other sometime in the future.
Usman Khawaja had criticized CA
Hockley had said, ‘We maintain close relations and regular communication with the Afghanistan Cricket Board. We want cricket to flourish around the world for both men and women. We look forward to progress and continue to maintain discussions and contacts with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, with the aim of resuming bilateral cricket with Afghanistan at some point in the future.’
The Australian team has refused to play bilateral series with Afghanistan on three occasions, citing human rights violations of girls and women under Taliban rule. But ICC has been facing him in events. Rashid Khan has already criticized the decision of the Australian Cricket Board. After Afghanistan’s famous victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, Usman Khawaja had also questioned Cricket Australia’s stance.
Rashid Khan recently represented Trent Rockets in The Hundred tournament held in England. Rashid is an excellent spinner and has played for many teams in franchise cricket. Rashid Khan has played 69 matches for Adelaide Strikers in Big Bash so far, in which he has 98 wickets in his name.