Rashid Khan has said he does not fully know why he was replaced as Afghanistan’s T20I captain, adding that he found out only when the board made its announcement.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed the change on March 5, 2026, naming Ibrahim Zadran as the new leader. It followed Afghanistan’s group-stage exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup. The board described the move as part of its long-term strategy, linked to recent changes in team management including a new head coach, but gave no further explanation.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Rashid said even he was unclear about what exactly happened at the time.
A record to look back on
Rashid captained Afghanistan in 48 T20Is, winning 26 and losing 22. The high point was the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Afghanistan reached the semi-finals for the first time in the tournament’s history, beating West Indies along the way.
He accepted that some matters were out of his hands, saying he has moved on. His priority, he added, is to represent Afghanistan and help win matches, whether or not he is captain.
Zadran takes over
Zadran, previously the T20I vice-captain, began with a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in Sharjah from March 13, 2026. He also led Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series against India, which Afghanistan lost 3-0.
Rashid stayed in the side as a player in that series, taking four wickets for 113 runs at an economy rate of 9.82. He has indicated that his attention is now on using his experience and skills to help Afghanistan succeed.
