One of the most successful spinners in the Big Bash League history, Rashid Khan, will not feature in the upcoming edition of the BBL, starting December 15. The Afghanistan superstar will miss the BBL for the second successive year. Rashid did not feature in the first list of overseas nominees for the BBL draft which was released by the tournament organisers on Monday, August 19. Rashid will miss the upcoming edition of the T20 tournament in Australia due to a busy schedule, according to Australian Associated Press.
Close to 600 players, including top overseas stars, nominated themselves for the BBL and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) drafts, scheduled to be held on September 1. Rashid Khan did not feature in the first list of 10 overseas nominees for the draft. His former term Adelaide Strikers were amongst the only two teams that did not announce a pre-signed player as well.
Rashid Khan’s absence from the Big Bash League comes after he had previously threatened to boycott the league over Australia’s refusal to play bilateral cricket with Afghanistan. Australia postponed a T20I series against Afghanistan which was initially scheduled for August 2024, citing deteriorating human rights under Taliban rule. It was the third instance of Australia refusing to play bilateral cricket with Afghanistan after it cancelled a one-off Test in November 2021 and postponed an ODI series last year.
However, AAP said that the BBL organisers confirmed that Rashid Khan’s withdrawal from the league was not due to any other reason but his busy schedule.
“AP has also been told the organisation has no issue with Rashid’s views, and would welcome the Afghan spinner back to the competition next summer,” the report stated.
Rashid Khan featured in Shpageeza Cricket League 2024, a local T20 tournament in Kabul, on August 18 after finishing his commitments with the Trent Rockets in the Hundred. Rashid also played for MI New York in the second season of Major League Cricket. He successfully led Afghanistan to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in which they stunned Australia.
Rashid Khan will next be in action in India when Afghanistan host a one-off Test against New Zealand in September. During the duration of the Big Bash League, Rashid is scheduled to play Test series against Zimbabwe and the SA20.
