Ever since the Taliban rule in Afghanistan banned women’s cricket in the country, Cricket Australia has strongly opposed maintaining cricketing ties with them. The CA cancelled an ODI series Down Under in 2023 and as recently as last month, refused to play a T20 series scheduled in the UAE later this year.
Last year, star Afghan spinner Rashid Khan had threatened to pull out of the Big Bash League over Australia’s refusal to play bilateral cricket with them. Though he later made a U-turn and made himself available for the season, he ultimately withdrew from the last season due to a back injury which required surgery.
RCB vs SRH Live Score, IPL 2024
As Rashid is currently playing in the Indian Premier League, plying his trade for Gujarat Titans, he is playing and against several Aussie cricketers but never discussed the matter of cricketing ties between the countries with them.
In an interview with Press Trust of India, Rashid said he hasn’t actually spoken to any of them about the issue.
“I have never discussed it with anybody (Australian cricketers) as I haven’t had that opportunity to discuss all those things with them, something which is not in your hands or you have no control over, you can’t do anything about it,” Rashid was quoted as saying.
IPL 2024, including top contenders for the IPL 2024 ORANGE CAP and IPL 2024 PURPLE CAP. Explore the complete IPL 2024 SCHEDULE, IPL 2024 POINTS TABLE and players with the MOST SIXES, MOST FOURS and MOST FIFTIES in IPL 2024
“It’s not a cricketing reason or matter that you think about it, it is about two governments and as a player you can’t do anything about it. What we can do is whenever we get an opportunity to play cricket, we go with full pride while representing our country,” he added.
Having played over 400 T20 games and being the most sought after freelancer in the T20 universe, Rashid feels privileged about being the face of Afghanistan cricket.
“Before 2017, we never thought about playing the IPL. It was hard (far-fetched) thought for us to even think of playing in the biggest T20 league in the world.
“The hardest part is to get into the system and when I (first) got the opportunity, I knew okay, I got that opportunity now I have to do the best where it helps me promote my cricket and also help my country where youngsters can get inspired to get into cricket more and more,” he added.
(With PTI Inputs)
Comments
0 comment