Rashid Khan reveals why he declined T20I captaincy ahead of T20 World Cup 2021

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has changed a number of national team captains over the last couple of years. It all started from Asghar Afghan being sacked as the captain just ahead of the World Cup 2019 and Gulbadin Naib being named at the helm. Rashid Khan and Rahmat Shah were named the skippers for the Tests and T20Is then. But after the disastrous World Cup campaign, Rashid was named the captain across all formats.

It didn’t stop here and in December 2019, Asghar Afghan was appointed the skipper across all formats again. However, 15 months into his stint, a few days ago, ACB sacked him again and approving the split captaincy. Accordingly, Hashmatullah Shahidi has been named the captain of the Test and ODI side while the board is still looking for an able leader in the shortest format.

Interestingly, Rashid Khan has now revealed that he was offered the captaincy role in T20Is but he declined it stating he would be better of featuring as a player than leader. However, he is ready to take up the role of a vice-captain and help 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.

“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 wary of captaincy affecting his performance

Rashid Khan understands that it will take time for him settle into the captaincy role. Moreover, with the T20 World Cup approaching now, he reckons an additional will affect 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 currently in Abu Dhabi gearing up for the second leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He will feature for the Lahore Qalandars in the tournament.