Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan has distanced his team from the ‘Asia’s second-best team’ label ahead of the T20I series against Bangladesh, emphasising that the title was given by media and fans rather than the squad itself.
Afghanistan’s group-stage elimination at the Asia Cup 2025, after losses to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, sparked disappointment from supporters and pundits. Addressing the media before the Sharjah T20I series, Rashid Khan clarified that his squad never self-proclaimed the widely discussed tag.
“There is one thing which is always going around the media, people saying, best second Asia team, this, that. We didn’t say that, but I think in the past, we performed, and that’s where we got the tag. If you look into Asia Cup, World Cup semifinal, ODI World Cup, we beat in big teams. Champions Trophy, we beat England. That’s why we got the tag. In future, if we don’t perform well, definitely we will be number three, four, five, six. I feel we haven’t given ourselves that tag. We always trying our best to be better team and to perform better on the day. Sometimes you do well, sometimes you don’t. That’s a part of the game. But your mindset should be positive in always having that hunger to perform well. But that topic around the media going on, second best Asia team, out of the Asia Cup, this, that, we haven’t given ourselves that tag,” Rashid said.
Rashid Khan voiced his frustration at the mockery Afghanistan faced post-elimination, calling the criticism unfair. “They bring something into the table where people discuss it and make fun of it. And I feel like nowadays, the more you make fun of someone, the more people like you. And I feel like it’s going on a different level. And then it doesn’t look nice,” Rashid added.
He admitted the squad had not played many T20Is recently: “We haven’t played much T20Is as a team to be honest. Before the tri-series, the last we played was in the World Cup which was seven-eight months ago. But to get back from that, gather as a team, it does take time. But it is good for us,” highlighting the importance of match practice.
Looking ahead, Rashid reiterated that Afghanistan’s primary objective is World Cup preparation, not just immediate results. “I think every game is very competitive. It is not like we did not play competitive cricket in Asia Cup. For us, every game is competitive. We are not here just to have fun, enjoy, and then go back. We have a target, and the target is how we are going to be a perfect and balanced side for the next World Cup and that’s the mindset from now on,” Rashid told reporters.
Rashid downplayed the impact of immediate results, emphasising the bigger goal. “From now on, losing doesn’t matter that much for us, but we can get better as a well-prepared side for the World Cup, that is the target. If we win now, and we don’t win in the World Cup, for me, that’s more upsetting,” he said.
– Ends