For Rashid Khan, hosting and captaining Afghanistan in an international match in Kabul would represent a moment greater than winning a World Cup.
Kabul | By Somaya Hashemi
Afghanistan cricket star Rashid Khan says his ultimate dream is to lead the national team in an international match in Kabul, in front of home supporters, describing the moment as more meaningful than any global trophy.
“Honestly, this would be bigger than a World Cup for me and for the team,” Rashid Khan said. “That day, all the media and the world would see what Afghanistan is really like at home — how our people welcome international players and how much they love cricket.”
Afghanistan has not hosted an international cricket match for decades, largely due to prolonged conflict and security concerns. As a result, the national team continues to play its home fixtures at neutral venues in India and the United Arab Emirates.
Rashid emphasized that playing on home soil carries an emotional value that cannot be replicated elsewhere. “International cricket in your own country is beyond a dream,” he said. “When you play at home, the feeling is completely different, and the world will see how beautiful Afghanistan truly is.”
Despite Afghanistan’s rapid rise in international cricket and Rashid Khan’s global recognition as one of the sport’s leading players, the absence of home matches remains a symbolic reminder of the challenges the country has faced after decades of war.
Afghanistan Cricket Board officials have repeatedly expressed hope that improved conditions could eventually allow the country to host international fixtures, a development that players say would mark a historic milestone for Afghan cricket.