Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq slam Australia’s withdrawal from Afghanistan ODI series

Australia’s decision to pull out of a proposed ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE has not gone down well with some sections of the cricketing fraternity, with Afghan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq pulling out of the Big Bash League (BBL) in retaliation.

Not long after Naveen’s pullout, star all-rounder Rashid Khan also expressed his disappointment over Australia’s decision, saying he would be taking a call on participating in future editions of the BBL.

Naveen’s decision came hours after Cricket Australia announced their decision to pull out of the tour in protest against the Taliban regime’s discriminatory policies that prevent women and girls from playing sports in the mountainous south Asian nation.

time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them #CA

— Naveen ul haq Murid (@imnaveenulhaq) January 12, 2023

“Time to say won’t be participating in big bash after this until they stop these childish decisions that’s how they went about the one off test now ODI when a country is going through so much in place off being supportive you want to take the only reason of happiness from them,” Naveen wrote on Twitter.

Naveen, who has made seven ODI and 22 T20I appearances for the Afghan Atalans, represents Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash and has made two appearances so far this season, against Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes respectively.

Khan, one of the top all-rounders in the world in the white-ball formats, is a hot commodity in T20 leagues across the world and made eight appearances for the Adelaide Strikers in the 12th edition of the BBL before flying to South Africa, where he is representing MI Cape Town in the inaugural SA20.

Cricket! The only hope for the country.
Keep politics out of it. @CricketAus @BBL @ACBofficials ♥️