Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has removed Lahore Qalandars from his social media bio, following his country’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming tri-national T20I series in Pakistan. The withdrawal comes in protest against recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, which reportedly killed eight civilians, including three young cricketers.
Rashid Khan X Handle
Rashid, widely regarded as one of Afghanistan’s most influential cricketers, had previously listed all his major teams on X (formerly Twitter), including the national team, Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Adelaide Strikers in the BBL and Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. The latest update now shows the Qalandars removed, leaving only its IPL and BBL affiliations alongside the Afghan national team.
The move follows a strong statement by Rashid condemning the airstrikes and expressing support for the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) decision to pull out of the series scheduled in Lahore from November 17-29. The tri-series was to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Message from Rashid Khan on X
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani airstrikes – a tragedy that has claimed the lives of women, children and young cricketers aspiring to represent Afghanistan on the world stage,” Rashid wrote on the world stage. “These illegal actions constitute a serious violation of human rights. I fully support the ACB’s decision to step down. Our national dignity must come first.”The ACB confirmed that the three cricketers killed in the attacks – Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon – were from Urgun district of Paktika, while seven others were injured.Afghan players expressed strong reactions to the incident. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib said, “This brutal act of Pakistan Army is an attack on our people, our pride and our independence, but it will never break the Afghan spirit. »Rashid Khan’s decision, both in his public statements and biography, highlights the growing tension and emotional toll of the attacks on Afghan cricket, as the team takes a strong stand on national dignity and respect for the lives lost.
