The Kabul Tribune (KT)— Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan says the Afghanistan Cricket Board did not inform him before replacing him as the national team’s T20 captain earlier this year, saying he learned of the decision when it was publicly announced.
“Even I don’t know what exactly happened at that time,” Rashid told Cricinfo in an interview facilitated by Red Bull. “I came to know about the captaincy change when the board announced it.”
Rashid was replaced by opening batter Ibrahim Zadran after Afghanistan failed to advance from the group stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Despite the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign, Afghanistan had achieved notable results under Rashid’s leadership, including reaching the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Rashid captained Afghanistan in 48 T20 internationals, winning 26 and losing 22, according to Cricinfo statistics.
Rashid said he has moved on from the decision and remains focused on contributing to the national team.
“Under my captaincy, we reached the T20 World Cup semifinals, we beat West Indies, but sometimes things are not in your control,” he said. “But I have moved on now. Whether I’m captain or not, I’m proud that I’m representing Afghanistan and I’m trying to put to use whatever skills and capabilities I have.”
“What I can control is to do well for Afghanistan and make them win,” he added.
Zadran took charge as Afghanistan’s full-time T20 captain in the team’s recent three-match series against India. Afghanistan lost all three matches.
Rashid took four wickets for 113 runs across the series, with an economy rate of 9.82.
Rashid remains one of Afghanistan’s leading players and has been a key figure in the team’s rise in international cricket.
