'Hopefully it happens...' - Rashid Khan Aims to Represent Afghanistan on International Stage

Rashid Khan, the hero of Afghanistan's cricket team, has a wish before he retires. Before saying goodbye to cricket, he stated that he would like to play at least one international match in his home country of Afghanistan. In a recent interview at an event in Dubai, the 25-year-old discussed the importance of playing at home, which is still a fantasy even though his side has been a full member since 2017.

Speaking at a function in Dubai, Rashid admitted that it would be an absolute dream to play for his country in Afghanistan. Despite his sincere hope, he also acknowledged that, considering the current situation, he was somewhat pessimistic about this occurring anytime soon. 

Rashid Khan gets candid:

Rashid said, “That's in FTP for now. But when the time comes, it’s only then you will know whether it’s happening. There have been so many games scheduled in Afghanistan in the FTP over the years, but they have never taken place. But hopefully it happens. It's good for cricket and good for Afghanistan. Well, if it eventually happens, that will be a kind of dream to play international cricket in Afghanistan. I hope that comes before I retire from the sport. That's something which I dream of – playing in front of my home crowd. So, hopefully, that happens in the future."

As cricketer Rashid Khan tours the world, he dreams of playing in front of a home crowd in Afghanistan before retirement pic.twitter.com/TKhzqEofTf

— The National (@TheNationalNews) July 4, 2025

Afghanistan's reputation as the second-best cricket side in Asia has significantly improved over the last several years, and the minnow label has been lifted. When playing against some of the best cricketing nations, the Afghan side has displayed an amazing style of cricket. They not only played hard but also advanced to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after defeating Australia in the group stage, making their effort more noteworthy.

Jonathan Trott, the head coach of Afghanistan, was cited by ESPNcricinfo stating, "We're disappointed. We'd geared ourselves up, and we'd trained really well. So really disappointed. The thing was we got to train on the square [on] the days before, so we got to see the pitch. The guys were starting to get there; their appetite for the game was growing even more. So heartbreaking not to be able to play."

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