Rashid sets sights on 2024 T20 World Cup

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan has said that his side has already set their sights on the next T20 World Cup. Ahead of the T20 series against Bangladesh ACB chief selector Asadullah Khan told Cricbuzz that the selection panel is starting to have a look at all the players before they finalize their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled in USA and West Indies in 2024.

Rashid echoed the same sentiments ahead of the first T20I. "Well you know that is something I have been working on since I got this leadership and something I wanted to do in the next World Cup. It's just not that we are focusing on one series at a time, its just about focusing on how we gonna be in the next World Cup and that has been started now," Rashid told reporters at Sylhet on Thursday.

"At the moment we had around 22 to 23 players in the group and we just mixed it up to see what is best for us as a team and we give the most opportunity to the guys and they can deliver. I feel like we have a good time but if we have a process to go through we gonna be well prepared for the World Cup."

Rashid also admitted that he doesn't want his teammates to worry about the end result and just focus on the process every time. "For me, I don't think about the result," he said. "And this is something which is very clear to the team. Don't put that on your side to win the games. For me, the important thing is preparation and giving 100 percent on the ground whether that's in bowling, batting and fielding.

Rashid feels that it's time Afghanistan's batting unit starts clicking especially with some of their players gaining experience by playing around the world. "That's the main focus, we need to get better in that department as well," he pointed out. "We had enough time in international cricket and I feel like we have those skills and talent but it's just about performing in the batting as well.

"I feel like they play more cricket and especially around the world, they play leagues. Gurbaz played around, Ibrahim played around. I think that's a plus playing around and get experience to get better day by day. So hopefully, next two, three or four-five years, we fulfill that department as well," he said.

Rashid also heaped praise on Noor Ahmed and mentioned that his presence in the squad can be great for Afghanistan especially when they need a third spinner in the XI. "Noor is a very good find for us especially the way he performed in the IPL this year," Rashid noted. "It was also great for his experience as well. It's great to have him as a back-up like whenever you need him as a third spinner in a condition that suits, we have the option.

"But still he has been learning and it's very early days. The more he plays, the more he gets better. For Afghanistan, it's a plus point to have him as a back-up. Noor is getting better and he's learning in each and every day. Definitely he is going to be a future superstar in Afghanistan cricket.