Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has again called on Cricket Australia to reconsider withdrawing from the upcoming bilateral series with Afghanistan following their T20 World Cup victory in Kingstown this weekend.
Australia’s T20 World Cup qualification is now in jeopardy after Mitchell Marsh’s team lost to Afghanistan by 21 runs at the St Vincent Arnos Vale Ground on Sunday morning (AEST).
It was Afghanistan’s first ever win against Australia in any format and thousands of fans celebrated the historic moment on the streets of their home country.
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“It’s a big win for us as a team and as a country,” Khan said in the post-match press conference.
“It’s always so invigorating to beat a team like that.
“It gives so much hope to the people back home, especially the younger generation, to get them involved in cricket.”
“Cricket is their only source of happiness back home and we are very lucky to be able to give that to them here.”
“It gives me a lot of energy and motivation for the upcoming matches.”
Afghanistan’s victory was no fluke. Khan’s side outclassed Australia in every aspect of the game – running between the wickets, catching in the outfield and fielding on the ground.
The Afghanistan men’s cricket team has become a source of pride for the war-torn country since winning its first World Cup in 2015, slowly growing from a semi-second division team into a white-ball powerhouse.
After beating teams such as Pakistan and England at last year’s World Cup in India, Afghanistan once again proved themselves genuine favourites with comfortable wins over New Zealand and Australia in the Caribbean this month.
“Our journey begins now,” Afghanistan bowler Gulbuddin Naib said at the post-match presentation.
“We have achieved a lot of goals over the last 10 years, so this is a great achievement for our cricketing community. It’s a great moment not just for me, but for my country, my people.”
Earlier this year, CA postponed a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan scheduled for August and maintained its stance that it would not play any bilateral cricket matches with the country until “the situation for women and girls improves”.
Since the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the repressive Islamic fundamentalists have been gradually stripping away the rights of women and girls. University education and sports for women have been suspended indefinitely, and women have been banned from gyms, public baths and parks.
Many of Afghanistan’s female players have been forced to flee the country, and 22 of Afghanistan’s contracted female cricketers now live in Australia. Afghanistan is the only ICC member country without a women’s team – a key requirement for ICC membership.
CA cancelled the one-off Test against Afghanistan in November 2021 along with the three-match ODI series last year but Australia continue to play Afghanistan in ICC events, including the 2022 T20 World Cup in their home country and last year’s World Cup in India.
Afghanistan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq, who took three wickets in Sunday’s win at Kingstown, mocked CA on social media ahead of last year’s World Cup match at the Wankhede Stadium.
“It will be interesting to see Cricket Australia stand up for the World Cup now that they have refused to play in the bilateral series,” he posted on Instagram at the time.
“Human rights or two?”
Khan has repeatedly voiced his unhappiness with CA’s decision and has threatened to withdraw from next summer’s Big Bash League unless the association changes its stance. The 25-year-old Khan is Adelaide Strikers’ all-time leading BBL wicket-taker, taking 98 wickets at 17.51 with an economy of 6.44.
“Sport brings people together,” Khan told reporters on Sunday.
“We will be happy to play any team and that is the only way to improve our cricket.”
“There are some things in cricket that nobody can control, it’s something we can’t do anything about.
“I wish there was something I could do, but I don’t know the solution.”
“I don’t know much about these political matters, and I don’t like them, so I can’t really answer.
“It’s something we can’t control and I don’t think we can bring sport into it… I don’t think cricket is the solution to politics.”
“If we are going to play the World Cup, why not play a bilateral series?
“It’s nice to play against the best teams and we’re learning from them and getting better every day, but that’s all I can say.”
Afghanistan will next take on Bangladesh at the Arnos Vale Ground on Tuesday morning, with the first pitch scheduled for 10.30am AEST.