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We need to improve as a team, says newly appointed Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan
Newly appointed Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan sounded confident ahead of the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in 2020. Here's what he had to say after being handed over the captaincy
Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan was named as the skipper of the Afghanistan Cricket Team following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 debacle. He replaced Gulbadin Naib at the helm after the side failed to win a single game in the premiere tournament. He is a player who always relishes challenges and will be keen to get the best out of the team. He is currently focused on the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in 2020.
He said, "That (2023 World Cup) is something that is a very big challenge for us. As I said, we have the skills and talent, but we need to improve. We need to know how to play against the big teams and what should be the proper preparation against them. As we saw, we were struggling in this World Cup. I think the 2023 World Cup, it's a little bit far. The focus and target right now is the T20 World Cup in Australia."
He also promised to take up the challenge of leading the team to the best of his abilities. "I wasn't quite surprised. I was already the vice-captain, which means you are the upcoming captain. Mentally, I was ready for it. Yes, it happened very quickly, but when it comes to the national team, when it comes to the country, you always have to be ready to lead. I'll try my best to lead as well as possible."
"From here, we have to take steps. We have seen the World Cup, we have seen the oppositions and what should be the proper preparation for them, and we have to be very strong mentally. We have to be fully fit for such competitions and we have to be well-prepared. We are not playing with Associate teams right now, we are playing with the full members, so we have to be well-planned and prepared."
He also called for his bunch to improve on the fitness aspect so as to provide stiff fights against quality oppositions. "The most important thing is fitness, we have to be very fit. These are the things we need to improve on in the upcoming years to be a better side, a side that can beat any team. We have the talent, we have the skills. We just need to bring improvement in that. You need to have worked on your skills, not that when you come to the national side you start working on it. Once you come to the national side you have to work on the mental aspect. And being a youngster, you should always believe in yourself and work hard. Than you can achieve anything."
Rashid Khan sounded confident and has called for an improved performance from his side in the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in 2020.
"We will show how we are better, and show how we can do better compared to the last World Cup. We just need to keep improving and bringing down the number of mistakes we have done in the past. In T20s, especially, we have the ability and we have the best team."
