Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan will reconsider participating in the 2025 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), after Cricket Australia (CA) indefinitely postponed their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which was scheduled for August at a neutral venue.  

CA later clarified that they made the call after consultations with the Australian government because of “a marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls” in Afghanistan. Breaking his silence on CA’s stance, Rashid said he was ” really hurt” by Cricket Australia pulling out of the T20Is.

“It does hurt you. You do want to play against the best teams and that’s where your cricket is going to improve more and more. You only get the opportunity playing against them [Australia] in the World Cups, but not in bilateral series,” Rashid was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Rashid felt that the series would’ve been a big learning curve for Afghanistan as playing against top-ranked teams would be hugely beneficial for the growth of the sport in the country.

“Recently, we played three T20s against India, and it helped us a lot. We nearly chased 200 [212] against India. Imagine if you wouldn’t have played that, where would the confidence come from? Playing against big teams is huge for us,” he added.

Rashid also opened up on his BBL future. He said: “You don’t want to play with my colleagues and you want to play with me. So what’s the difference? It means I’m putting my colleagues down as well. My country down as well.”

For the unversed, this was the third time CA had chosen not to play bilateral matches with Afghanistan.

In 2021, what would have been the first Test match between Australia and Afghanistan, was postponed. Last year, an ODI series was called off.

Rashid is currently playing for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Afghanistan’s national futsal team lost 3-1 against Iran in their first match in AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024 Thailand.

This match between the national futsal teams of Afghanistan and Iran was held in the “D” group of this competition in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mehran Ghulami scored the only goal for Afghanistan.

The national futsal players will face Kuwait in their second game next week.

Afghanistan is in the same group as Iran, Bahrain and Kuwait in the Futsal Asian Cup.

The Futsal Asian Cup is also a qualifier for the World Cup for 16. countries.

Sharp glovework by skipper Rishabh Pant and some inspired bowling set up a crushing six-wicket win for Delhi Capitals after Gujarat Titans fell to their IPL lowest of 89 on Wednesday.

Medium-pace bowler Mukesh Kumar stood out with figures of 3-14 to help bundle out Gujarat in 17.3 overs and Delhi raced to their target in 8.5 overs in Ahmedabad.

Delhi, who were without injured David Warner, registered just their third win and second successive of this season to jump three places to sixth in the 10-team table.

Pant, who returned to this year’s IPL after surviving a horror car crash, stood unbeaten on 16 after Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk made a brisk 20.

The 26-year-old Pant, a left-hand batsman, has scored 210 runs, including two half-centuries, in a boost to his chances of a return to the T20 World Cup in June.

“Lots of things to be pleased about,” said man of the match Pant. “We spoke about champion mindset and our team spoke about it.”

On his performance after his recovery, Pant added: “The only thought process before coming to the field is that I wanted to come in a better way, that’s the only thought when I was going through my rehab.

“Each and every match I am loving the process and being on the ground.”

Pant suffered multiple injuries when his Mercedes rammed into a barrier, flipped and caught fire in December 2022. He was hospitalized before being airlifted to Mumbai for further treatment and surgery.

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma dismissed captain Shubman Gill for eight in the second over of the match and Gujarat kept losing wickets to some disciplined bowling.

The fielding remained impressive after Sumit Kumar sent back Sai Sudarshan for 12 with a direct throw at the non-striker’s end.

Pant was nimble behind the stumps and started with a diving catch to dismiss David Miller off Ishant.

The wicketkeeper affected two stumpings when his quick work sent back Abhinav Manohar, for eight, and Shahrukh Khan, for a duck in the space of three balls off South African spinner Tristan Stubbs.

Gujarat slipped to 66-7, but Rashid Khan resisted from one end with his gritty 31 off 24 balls before he fell caught behind with Pant taking a regulation catch behind the stumps.

“Our batting was very average, but it’s important to move on and come back strong,” said Gill. “The wicket was alright, if you see some of the dismissals, it had nothing to do with the pitch.”

Gujarat’s total is the lowest this season in contrast to some big scores including two record highs of 277 and then 287 by Sunrisers Hyderabad. – AFP