‘Can cricket solve those issues?’ – Rashid to reconsider playing BBL over CA stance on Afghanistan

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The T20I collection, part of the ICC’s future excursions programme, was scheduled for August at a impartial venue, however CA stated in January that it was suspending the engagement after consultations with the Australian authorities due to “a marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls” in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

“It does hurt you,” Rashid advised ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, the place Titans will play their subsequent IPL 2024 sport, in opposition to Delhi Capitals, on Wednesday. “You do want to play against the best teams and that’s where your cricket is going to improve more and more. You only get the opportunity playing against them [Australia] in the World Cups, but not in bilateral series.”

Rashid, who will lead Afghanistan on the 2024 T20 World Cup in June, stated that playing in opposition to prime-ranked groups could be massively helpful for the expansion of his workforce. As an instance, Rashid cited the three-match T20I collection Afghanistan performed this January in opposition to India, which they misplaced 2-1.

“Recently, we played three T20s against India, and it helped us a lot,” he stated. “We nearly chased 200 [212] against India. Imagine if you wouldn’t have played that, where would the confidence come from? Playing against big teams is huge for us.”

This was the third time CA had chosen not to honour a bilateral engagement with Afghanistan: in 2021, what would have been the primary Test match between the 2 groups, was postponed, after which, in 2023, an ODI collection was known as off.

“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. My country down as well”

Rashid Khan on playing within the BBL

“As a player you can’t do much about it,” he stated. “It’s the issue of governments to resolve. But what hurts me the most is when things like that happens, why it is hurting cricket [in Afghanistan]?

“If one thing is [in the hands of the] governments, why is hurting cricket? Why it comes to cricket? Can cricket solve those points? I feel if cricket is fixing those points, then it is wonderful, then I’m proud of it.”

Rashid confused that cricket was a “supply of happiness” for Afghanistan, and that was something Australia needed to understand.

“Cricket is the one supply again dwelling in Afghanistan which give individuals happiness,” he said. “And in case you are taking that happiness [away] from the individuals as effectively, you’re hurting extra individuals as effectively again dwelling. And that’s one thing which I really feel like is extra hurting as a captain the place you’re so excited as a teenager playing in opposition to Australia after which this factor simply occurs.”

Rashid on BBL: ‘Nothing is bigger than my country’

Last year, Rashid had threatened to withdraw from the BBL, but changed his mind and entered the BBL draft, before missing the tournament because he had to undergo a back surgery. Rashid said that CA’s latest move had again forced him to reassess his stance on participating in the BBL, where he has represented Adelaide Strikes since 2016-17.

“Lots of issues come within the thoughts,” he said. “Like, if you do not need to play in opposition to my workforce, then why you need me to play in your nation? Because I’m not allowed then in your nation as effectively to play cricket.

“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. My country down as well. So if I’m playing there, if money in these things comes, nothing is bigger than my country. Money will just go and come. That’s not the point.

“If they play with us and we play in opposition to them, that is the one means we are able to play there as effectively. That’s the one answer for this drawback to be solved.”

Nagraj Gollapudi is information editor at ESPNcricinfo

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