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Afghanistan's superstar Rashid Khan has a wish before retiring from the international cricket. He expressed a strong desire to play at least one international cricket match in his native Afghanistan before he bids farewell to the sport.
That will be a kind of dream to play international cricket in Afghanistan: Rashid Khan
Due to ongoing security concerns and political instability, Afghanistan has not been able to host any international cricket matches within its own borders. While several international fixtures have been scheduled for Afghanistan to play at home over the years, these plans have not materialized. Consequently, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has had to act as hosts for their home matches, which are typically played in the United Arab Emirates or India. However, there is potential for a historic moment in the near future. In the latest Future Tours Programme (FTP), Afghanistan is scheduled to host both the West Indies and New Zealand in January and February. If these tours come to fruition, it would mark the first time that top international teams have played an official series in Afghanistan.
Speaking at an event in Dubai, Rashid acknowledged that playing an international match in Afghanistan would be a dream come true. Despite his strong wish, he also expressed a degree of pessimism about this happening in the immediate future, given the current circumstances.
“That's in FTP for now. But when the time comes, it’s only then you will know whether it’s happening. There have been so many games scheduled in Afghanistan in the FTP over the years, but have never taken place. But hopefully it happens. It's good for cricket and good for Afghanistan. Well, if it eventually happens, that will be a kind of dream to play international cricket in Afghanistan. I hope that comes before I retire from the sport. That's something which I dream of – playing in front of my home crowd. So, hopefully, that happens in the future," Rashid said.
Over the past few years, Afghanistan have noticeably improved its standing in the world of cricket, establishing itself as the second-best team in Asia and shedding its previous minnow tag.
The Afghan team has showcased an impressive brand of cricket against some of the top cricketing nations. Their performance at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 was particularly remarkable, as they not only competed strongly but also reached the semi-finals after defeating Australia in the group stage.
The 26-year-old hailed their performance in the T20 World Cup as one of Afghanistan's greatest achievements in cricket, emphasizing that it has instilled a great deal of confidence within the team. He then continued to share his thoughts:
“It’s something that gave us so much confidence. I think that has given us so much positive energy. As a team, we have just kept going and going, and we have supported that confidence. We're not getting enough cricket you want as a nation, especially against the big sides. The more opportunities you get, the better you get,” he added.
Looking ahead, Afghanistan have set their sights on a strong showing in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. The planned series against Pakistan will serve as crucial preparation for this major tournament. Rashid Khan, widely regarded as one of the best T20 cricketers globally, has experienced a slight dip in his performance following recent injury concerns. Throughout his career, he has achieved remarkable success for Afghanistan, taking 45 wickets in Test matches, 199 wickets in One Day Internationals, and 161 wickets in T20is.
“The T20s in Pakistan is a great preparation for us leading to the Asia Cup, if it happens. As a team, we played lots of great cricket in the last two to three years and we need to continue that good form, good cricket and more importantly, those efforts," he concluded.
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