Chennai

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan on Saturday welcomed the expansion of the T20 World Cup to 20 teams, saying the move has created opportunities for emerging nations and allowed fresh talent to shine on the global stage.

The 2026 edition is the largest T20 World Cup ever in terms of participating teams, and Rashid believes the inclusiveness has only strengthened the tournament.

“It’s always good to have more teams in the World Cup. When more nations participate, you get to see new talent that hasn’t been noticed before,” Rashid said on the eve of Afghanistan’s Group D clash against New Zealand. “These teams challenge stronger sides, and that’s how the World Cup keeps getting bigger and better.”

He added that results are not the only measure of success at this level. “Winning or losing is not everything. What matters is showing the world that you are capable of beating any team on any given day, provided you have belief,” he said.

Afghanistan have been placed in a demanding group alongside New Zealand and South Africa, but the leg-spinner said the team was prepared to take the harder path.

“In a World Cup, nothing comes easily. That’s the beauty of T20 cricket,” Rashid said. “If you want to achieve something special, you have to go through tough routes. We have strong opponents, but that challenge excites us.”

Drawing confidence from Afghanistan’s performances in the previous World Cup, where they defeated several established teams, Rashid said belief within the squad remains strong.

“We’ve shown in the 2024 World Cup that we can beat big teams. The confidence is there. Now it’s about doing the right things at the right moments,” he said.

Rashid also felt that the Afghan players’ extensive exposure to the Indian Premier League would be an advantage in the tournament.

“We have quality spinners, but execution matters. The wicket looks good for batting, so bowlers need to be smart,” he said. “The experience of playing here in the IPL helps. You know how to use conditions better and how to challenge batters.”

The Afghan skipper is nearing a major personal milestone, sitting just four wickets short of 700 wickets across all T20 competitions. Reflecting on the achievement, Rashid said it still feels surreal.

“I’ve played international cricket for just nine or ten years, and becoming the leading wicket-taker is more than a dream,” he said. “I never count my wickets. I usually hear about milestones from the media—400, 500, 600.”

He added that his focus has always been on contributing to the team. “I want to bowl in difficult situations, when the team needs wickets. That keeps me motivated.”

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Calling the 700-wicket mark a significant achievement, Rashid said it required years of consistency and hard work. “I feel blessed and very happy to be close to it. Hopefully, there’s much more to come,” he added.