Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has removed Lahore Qalandars from his social media bio, following his country’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming tri-nation T20I series in Pakistan. The withdrawal comes in protest against recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, which reportedly killed eight civilians, including three young cricketers.
Rashid Khan X handle
Rashid, widely regarded as one of Afghanistan’s most influential cricketers, had previously listed all his major teams on X (formerly Twitter), including the national side, Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, and Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. The latest update now shows the Qalandars removed, leaving only his IPL and BBL affiliations alongside the Afghanistan national team.
The change followed a strongly worded statement from Rashid condemning the airstrikes and expressing support for the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) decision to pull out of the series scheduled in Lahore from November 17 to 29. The tri-series was to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.
Rashid Khan post on X
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes — a tragedy that claimed women, children, and young cricketers aspiring to represent Afghanistan on the global stage,” Rashid wrote on X. “These unlawful actions are a grave violation of human rights. I fully support the ACB’s decision to withdraw. Our national dignity must come first.”
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The ACB confirmed that the three cricketers killed in the attacks — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — were from Paktika’s Urgun district, while seven others were injured.Afghan players have expressed strong reactions to the incident. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib posted: “This brutal act by the Pakistani army is an assault on our people, pride, and independence, but it will never break the Afghan spirit.”The move by Rashid Khan, both in public statements and his bio update, underscores the growing tension and the emotional toll of the attacks on Afghan cricket, as the team takes a firm stand on national dignity and respect for the lives lost.
