Rashid Khan: Rashid Khan appointed as new captain of Afghanistan T20 team, Afghanistan announces new captain ahead of T20 World Cup

Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been appointed as the captain of Afghanistan’s T20 team keeping in mind the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in UAE from October 17 to November 14. Left-handed batsman Najibullah Zadran will be the vice-captain of the team. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said in a statement, “All-rounder Rashid Khan has been appointed as the T20 International captain of Team Afghanistan. Najibullah Zadran has been made the vice-captain of the national team in this format.

“The selection of Rashid, one of the sport’s well-known global faces, for the role, was led by ACB President Farhan Yousafzai, by the ACB leaders for his experience, his outstanding performances and leadership skills playing with the national team over the years.” Keeping this in mind. Rashid, who is ranked second in the T20 International bowlers’ rankings, has previously ruled out leading Afghanistan’s T20 International team, saying he believes he is more useful as a player than as a leader.

Twenty-two-year-old Rashid was appointed captain of the team across all formats in July 2019 but was replaced by Asghar Afghan in December following Afghanistan’s defeat in the one-off Test and ODI series against the West Indies. He could be the youngest captain in the T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan have been clubbed with England, India and South Africa in Group B of the T20 World Cup 2021. The remaining two teams will come through qualifiers. The 2021 T20 World Cup was recently shifted from India to the UAE after the second wave of the Kovid-19 pandemic.