Afghanistan’s cricket icon Rashid Khan has revealed a heartfelt aspiration that continues to elude him despite a storied international career—playing an international match on Afghan soil. The star leg-spinner voiced this enduring dream while speaking at an event in Dubai, underscoring the emotional and symbolic weight such a moment would carry for him and his nation.
“A kind of dream” that still feels distant
While Afghanistan has gained full ICC member status and achieved remarkable success on the field, it remains without a single international game played within its borders due to persistent political instability and security concerns. Since attaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan has been forced to host its “home” matches in countries like the UAE, India, Sri Lanka, and Qatar.
In the most recent Future Tours Programme (FTP), Afghanistan is slated to host the West Indies and New Zealand in early 2026. If realized, it would mark the country’s first official home series against top-tier opposition. But Rashid remains cautiously optimistic.
“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 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,” Rashid said.
Progress on the pitch, obstacles off it
Afghanistan’s rise in the cricketing world has been one of the sport’s most compelling success stories. The team’s performance at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals after defeating Australia in the group stage, was hailed as a turning point.
“It’s something that gave us so much confidence. I think that has given us so much positive energy. As a team, we have just kept going and going, and we have supported that confidence. We’re not getting enough cricket you want as a nation, especially against the big sides. The more opportunities you get, the better you get,” Rashid reflected.
Despite the on-field strides, Afghanistan continues to face logistical and political challenges. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 raised concerns over the country’s sporting future, particularly regarding women’s participation in sports, and contributed to the reluctance of international teams to tour.
One such recent disappointment came when Afghanistan was scheduled to play a Test match against New Zealand in Greater Noida, India. The match was abandoned without a ball bowled due to a poorly maintained outfield.
“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,” said head coach Jonathan Trott, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Looking ahead to Asia Cup 2025
Rashid also emphasized the importance of sustained momentum as Afghanistan prepares for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, with T20s against Pakistan potentially serving as vital preparation.
“The T20s in Pakistan is a great preparation for us leading to the Asia Cup, if it happens. As a team, we played lots of great cricket in the last two to three years and we need to continue that good form, good cricket and more importantly, those efforts,” he noted.
Now 26, Rashid Khan continues to be one of the world’s premier T20 players, though recent injuries have led to a slight dip in form. Still, his legacy in Afghan cricket is already cemented, with over 400 international wickets across formats. But for the spinner who helped put Afghan cricket on the map, one milestone remains missing—he is still waiting to play in front of his home crowd.
