Afghanistan Captain Rashid Khan Reflects on Super Over Loss to South Africa Echoing 2023 Australia Defeat

Afghanistan cricket captain Rashid Khan stated that his team's Super Over loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad has reopened memories of their 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup defeat to Australia, a result that "never goes out of the mind."

Speaking in Delhi ahead of Afghanistan's T20 World Cup 2026 match against the United Arab Emirates, Rashid said the team ordered Peshawari food late at night to unwind after the defeat. "We were in Ahmedabad and we told the manager to order food. Peshawari food: their dal bukhara, dal makhani, I told him to order that and bring some tandoori chicken so that we can vent our anger on that," Rashid said.

He emphasized team unity, adding, "No one should say that he did this or he did that because it brings negativity in the team. No one has lost, just our team has lost. We put in a lot of effort, but we never blame any player for being in a Super Over."

Rashid described the loss as difficult to shake: "To be honest, it’s pretty hard. It’s very, very hard to lose that game where we had it in our hand a couple of times and then it just slips off your hand and it disappoints you. Like, the game we played against Australia in the 2023 World Cup at Wankhede, it never goes out of the mind, until we won against them in the 2024 World Cup."

Afghanistan kept their T20 World Cup 2026 hopes alive with a five-wicket victory over UAE in Delhi, chasing 161 with four balls to spare. UAE posted 160 for 9, with Sohaib Khan scoring 68 and Alishan Sharafu 40. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Azmatullah Omarzai took two wickets each for Afghanistan.

In the chase, Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a duck, but Ibrahim Zadran made 53 off 41 balls and Darwish Rasooli 33. Omarzai hit an unbeaten 40 off 21 balls to guide Afghanistan to 162 for 5. The win gives Afghanistan two points, though they need favorable results to reach the Super Eights. They face Canada next on Thursday.