FTP leaves Afghans yearning for more quality cricket

2 Afghanistan have won the first two fixtures out of three Asia Cup matches contested against Bangladesh (all in the 50-over format): by 32 runs in Fatullah on March 1, 2014 & by 136 runs in Abu Dhabi on September 20, 2018, before losing by three runs in Abu Dhabi on September 23, 2018.

- Arani Basu

Dubai: International cricket is at crossroads. While the International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning an aggressive drive to globalise the sport with an attempt to jump onto the Olympic bandwagon, T20 leagues are mushrooming across major cricket-playing nations.

And Rashid Khan is one of those players who epitomise cricket’s power to offer global stardom to anyone outside the major cricket-playing nation. Coming from Afghanistan, a country forever ravaged by war and political tension, Rashid has gone on to become one of the biggest brands in T20 cricket in a span of six years and at an age of 24.

Rashid’s rise as one of the most lethal wrist-spinners in white-ball cricket has coincided with Afghanistan’s ascent a cricket power. Their absolute dominance over Sri Lanka here on the opening night of the Asia Cup is a testimony to their potential. And it’s not just Rashid. Players like Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman too have gone on to become global names.