Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has replaced a number of national team captains. It all started when Asghar Afghan was a captain just ahead of the World Cup 2019, and Gulbadin Naib was appointed as his replacement. The Test and T20I captains were then named Rashid Khan and Rahmat Shah. Rashid was named captain across all forms following the disappointing World Cup campaign. Rashid Khan declines Afghanistan T20 captaincy.

“I am good in the role as vice-captain and help the captain wherever I am needed”- Rashid Khan

It didn’t stop there, as Asghar Afghan was re-appointed as captain across all formats in December 2019. However, after 15 months on the job, ACB fired him again a few days ago, approving the split captaincy. As a result, Hashmatullah Shahidi has been chosen Test and ODI captain, while the board continues to look for a capable leader in the shorter format.

Rashid Khan declines Afghanistan T20 captaincy. He has recently stated that he was given the captaincy role in T20Is but turned it down, stating that he would rather be a player than a leader. He is, however, willing to take on the position of vice-captain and support the skipper. “I am very much clear in my mind that I am better off as a player. I am good in the role as vice-captain and help the captain wherever I am needed. It’s better for me that I stay away from this position.

Rashid afraid of captaincy affecting his performance

“I want to do well for the team as a player and my performance is a bit more crucial for the team rather than me thinking about different things being a captain,” the leg-spinner said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

Rashid Khan knows that settling into the captaincy role would take time. Furthermore, as the T20 World Cup approaches, he believes that something else will have an impact on his performance on the field, which is more important. “It (captaincy) takes time, and right now the most important thing is the World Cup which is quite near and I feel it is too much for me to have.”

“I am afraid it might affect my performance for the team which is a key so I am very happy as a player and whatever the decision board and selection committee make I am fully behind it and will appreciate it,” the 22-year-old further added.

Rashid Khan is presently in Abu Dhabi, preparing for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) second leg. In the tournament, he will play for the Lahore Qalandars.

 

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