NEW DELHI: Former Afghanistan cricketer and current chief selector Asadullah Khan has hit out at Australia’s repeated refusal to play bilateral series against Afghanistan, calling it a violation of the “gentleman’s spirit” and a move that unfairly punishes a team that has earned its place among the top sides purely through merit.

“Our women’s cricket team hasn’t played any matches in recent years, and this will take time to change. But Cricket Australia and other Boards linking cricket with politics. — I don’t think that’s a good sign for the gentleman’s game,” Khan said in an interaction with PTI Videos.

Khan stressed that Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket was built on performance and credibility, not sympathy or charity.

“We didn’t get ICC full-member status as a charity; we earned it through our performance. Our spin attack is the best in the world, and our winning percentage is impressive. If, despite all this, some countries are politicizing our cricket, it’s like bringing a great team down,” he said.

Cricket Australia had pulled out of a T20I series against Afghanistan last year, citing the Taliban’s continued restrictions on women. While acknowledging the difficulties surrounding women’s cricket in the country, Khan said isolation was not the right approach.

“The way Australia and other countries are treating Afghanistan cricket — there are cultural factors involved, and the nation hasn’t yet accepted some changes. But refusing to play with us because of that will only hurt men’s cricket too,” he noted.

Thankful to India and BCCI

Khan also expressed deep gratitude towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its long-standing support.

“We are thankful to all teams that continue to play with us, especially India. The BCCI has played a major role, not just by providing us grounds but also through the IPL, where eight of our players compete in the world’s best league,” he said.

“We can win the T20 World Cup”

Looking ahead, the Afghanistan chief selector sounded confident about the team’s chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup, saying they were well-prepared despite limited game time.

“I would credit Rashid Khan and the Afghanistan Cricket Board for building a strong unit with the few matches we’ve had. Our opening pair is settled, the middle order is improving, and our spin and pace attacks are among the best in the world. We genuinely believe we can win the World Cup,” he said.

Test cricket still a work in progress

Khan admitted that Test cricket remains a challenge for Afghanistan, given the lack of regular fixtures.

“Tests are still new for us, and we haven’t had enough opportunities. We’re getting fewer matches, which makes it difficult to develop consistency in this format,” he said.

Currently also serving as director of the Gulf Cup, Khan expressed pride in the tournament’s milestone year.

“It’s a great honor to be part of the Gulf Cup 2025, especially in its 25th year. This tournament has played a vital role in developing cricket across the Gulf region and beyond,” he added.

(With PTI Inputs)