Afghanistan appoints three new skippers, Nabi, Rashid Khan hit back
Kabul, Apr 6 (IBNS): Ahead of the Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan Cricket Board has appointed three different captains of the national sides for the three formats of cricket.
The country's cricket board decided to remove Asghar Afghan as skipper of all three formats of the game.
Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, and Rahmat Shah have been named as the skippers for ODI, T20I and Test teams.
The names of the new skippers were announced during ACB selection Committee on Friday.
The board said that senior All-rounder Gulbadin Naib replaces Asghar Afghan as the skipper of the ODI side.
T20 side captain Rashid Khan was named as vice-captain of ODI team.
In the Test format, Rahmat Shah will lead while his deputy will be Hashmatullah Shahidi.
However, Rashid Khan, who is considered as one of the top bowlers in the world now, criticised the move and tweeted: "With all the respect to the Selection Committee, I strongly disagree with the decision as it is irresponsible & bias. As we have @cricketworldcup in front of us, Captain #MAsgharAfghan should remain as our team Captain. His captaincy is highly instrumental for team success .(1/2)."
With just months to go for such a mega event like World Cup, changing the captain will cause uncertainty and also team morale will be affected. @ashrafghani @afgexecutive @hmohib( 2/2)
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) April 5, 2019
"With just months to go for such a mega event like World Cup, changing the captain will cause uncertainty and also team morale will be affected. @ashrafghani @afgexecutive @hmohib( 2/2)," he said.
I cannot do all great things, but I can do small things with great love and inspiration. Smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. The @RashidKhanFund will support Afghan children in need of education, orphans, clean water & healthcare.
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) August 10, 2018
Senior cricketer of the side Mohammad Nabi also said that it was not a right time to change the skipper before the World Cup.
Being a senior member of the side & having seen the rise of Afghanistan cricket @ashrafghani I don’t think it’s the right time to change the captain before the WC @afgexecutive The team has gelled really well under #Asghar & personally feel he is the right man to lead us @hmohib
— Mohammad Nabi (@MohammadNabi007) April 5, 2019
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.