Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has distanced his side from the tag of being the “second best team in Asia,” saying the label was created by supporters and the media rather than by the players themselves.
Speaking at a press conference in Sharjah ahead of the first T20 international against Bangladesh on Thursday, Rashid said Afghanistan had earned respect through past performances, but insisted such praise would only last as long as results continued.
“People say, ‘Second best team in Asia, this and that…’ We did not say that,” Rashid remarked. “In the past we performed, and that is where the tag came from. In future, if we do not perform well, we will be number three, four, five or six. That is how it works.”
Afghanistan have enjoyed a strong run in recent ICC events. They reached the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup after beating Bangladesh and Australia in the Super Eights. In the 2023 World Cup, they finished sixth with the same points as Pakistan and ahead of both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. At the 2025 Champions Trophy, they secured a win over England while Bangladesh and Pakistan exited without a victory.
However, their Asia Cup campaign last month ended in disappointment. Despite opening with a convincing 94-run victory over Hong Kong, they were edged out by Bangladesh by eight runs and beaten by Sri Lanka by six wickets, resulting in a group-stage exit.
Rashid expressed frustration at how the “second best in Asia” debate had been amplified online. “The media brings something to the table for people to discuss and make fun of,” he said. “Nowadays, the more you mock someone, the more people like you. It does not look nice. If you perform tomorrow, the same media will call you the best in Asia.”
He stressed that past accolades meant nothing without consistent performances. “Forget the tag of number two, number five or number six. That has nothing to do with anything. If I am ranked number one bowler in ICC rankings, it does not mean I will take five or ten wickets tomorrow. I still have to perform and give 100 percent. It is not about what I did in the past, it is about what I do in the present. If I take one wicket that helps the team, that is like twenty wickets for me.”
Rashid also praised Bangladesh’s top order, highlighting the impact of captain Litton Das’ absence and the emergence of Saif Hassan.
“He plays for Bangladesh, not for Afghanistan, but definitely he is a big player,” Rashid said of Litton. “His performances across formats have been great. His absence was felt in the Asia Cup.”
He reserved further praise for Saif Hassan. “He played unbelievable cricket in the Asia Cup. His intent was very clear. He trusted his skills and that is why he delivered for Bangladesh. He is a great talent and a great find for their cricket.”
Afghanistan and Bangladesh begin their three-match T20 series on Thursday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
