Rashid Khan confident of riding on SA20 experience ahead of South Africa clash

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Afghanistan is all set to lock horns with South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 match. The clash is scheduled to be played on February 11 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Ahead of the match, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said that riding on his experience of playing alongside South African cricketers during the SA20 will help him share the insights with his teammates.

“I think it helps you to share that information with the team. Like, personally I`ve been playing for long, played with each and every one (SA players) for a long time,” he said.

“I think it does help the youngsters who haven`t played and give them the kind of idea of what`s going to happen, what their mindset is, and I think it really helps. Spent one month there and I think that information you bring to the national team, it really helped the youngsters,” added Rashid.

So far, the 27-year-old cricketer has featured in all four editions of the SA20. He will line up for Afghanistan after spending a month in South Africa with the MI Cape Town squad.

He also feels that the Afghans and the Proteas have equal advantage in playing in familiar conditions through the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rashid also feels that the responsibility of representing the country comes with additional pressure, and he also feels that no person can ever predict the nature of the pitch.

“It definitely helps, but even if you have a good idea, still you don`t know how the wicket will behave. If you play in the IPL, it`s different, but when you play in the ICC event, it`s different. There is a pressure when you play for your country. So, it`s a different feeling,” he said.

“But to be honest, no one around the world will tell you how the wicket will behave before the game. I think they know the condition here as well. So, it`s not just like me playing a lot and it`s going to be favouring us, no, I think it`s equal for everyone,” said Rashid.

Afghanistan`s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026

Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Gulbadin Naib, Shahidullah, Rashid Khan (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Abdul Rasooli, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediquallah Atal, Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

(With PTI Inputs)

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