The Big Bash League (BBLstar )’s player Rashid Khan has threatened to quit after Cricket Australia (CA) chose to cancel a series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Australian cricket governing body has withdrawn from the One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan in response to Taliban efforts to severely curtail women’s rights in the country’s war-torn society.
Rashid was recently selected as the Afghanistan T20I team’s captain. After Afghanistan was eliminated from the T20 World Cup in November, Mohammad Nabi resigned as captain. Rashid took over for him. Rashid, one of the most lethal bowlers in T20 cricket, was signed by Adelaide Strikers in 2017. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan has said he will think about his future in the Big Bash League after the shocking decision that Cricket Australia will not be playing the three-match ODI series against the Asian country in March.
“I am really disappointed to hear that Australia has pulled out of the series to play us in March. I take great pride in representing my country and we have made great progress on the world stage. This decision from CA sets us back on that journey. If playing vs Afghanistan is so uncomfortable for Australia then I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my presence in the BBL. Therefore, I will be strongly considering my future in that competition,” Rashid mentioned in his tweet on Thursday.
Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus @BBL @ACBofficials ♥️ 🇦🇫 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ZPpvOBetPJ
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) January 12, 2023
Cricket Following discussions with many parties, including the Australian government, Australia has decided to cancel the ODI series against Afghanistan. After the Taliban announced an indefinite ban on Afghan girls attending universities, CA made its decision. Earlier, Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq announced his withdrawal from the Big Bash League when Australia decided not to play the series against the war-torn country, forfeiting 30 competition points.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has termed Australia’s decision as ‘pathetic’. “The decision to withdraw… is unfair and unexpected and will have a negative impact,” the ACB said in a statement.
