Rashid Khan to make himself available for the Big Bash League, withdraws BOYCOTT threat

Rashid Khan has played for the Adelaide Strikers since 2017.

Rashid Khan to make himself available for the Big Bash League, withdraws BOYCOTT threat

Rashid Khan in the BBL (image via ProBatsmen)

Afghan cricketer, Rashid Khan, has withdrawn his boycott threat and has decided to play in the Big Bash League this year. Rashid has played for the Adelaide Strikers since 2017, playing six seasons for the franchise and has been an integral part of their team. 

In January 2023, Cricket Australia withdrew from their series against Afghanistan. They stated that due to the Taliban restricting women from having access to education and playing sports, they have decided to not play against them. 

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Taliban has seized control over Afghanistan in September 2021 and since then started restricting their female athletes from playing in any sport. CA Had cancelled a Test match against Afghanistan in 2021 due to the Taliban’s restrictions on women. 

Rashid then released a statement, saying “If playing 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”

Pacer Naveen-ul-Haq called the CA “childish” for making such a decision and withdrew from the BBL as well. Afghanistan Cricket Board called the decision pathetic and had sent a written complaint to the ICC.  

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Rashid Khan has decided to play in the Big Bash League

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Rashid Khan in action for the Adelaide Strikers. (image via India TV News)

Despite his earlier boycott threat, Rashid Khan had nominated himself for the draft and it is expected that he will be retained by the Adelaide Strikers once more. He has played 54 games for the team, taking 73 wickets at an average of 19.06. In the past few seasons, he has improved his batting as well. He has been playing as a finisher for his nation and franchises.

Rashid will feature in the BBL with Afghani players like Mujeeb ur Rahman, Izharulhaq Naveed and Shafiqullah Ghafari. Rashid will play 8 games and then he will go to play the SAT20 for MI Cape Town.

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