Rashid Khan has withdrawn from the SA20 2026 tournament, leaving MI Cape Town to lead Afghanistan in the upcoming T20 International series against the West Indies. The decision prioritizes his Rashid Khan national duty, causing Kieron Pollard to take over his place for the remainder of the SA20 season. MI Cape Town, the defending champions, currently sit at the bottom of the points table with two wins and five losses from eight matches.
Afghanistan Faces Player Challenges Ahead of T20 World Cup
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s bowling strength has been further tested as fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out of both the three-match T20I series and the T20 World Cup due to the need for upcoming surgery. Naveen last played for Afghanistan in December 2024 but has struggled with injuries since, missing the Asia Cup 2025 due to a shoulder problem. His comeback stint included participation in leagues such as SA20 and the Major League Cricket (MLC) before his latest setback.
In preparation for these challenges, Afghanistan Cricket Board named mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, batter Ijaz Ahmadzai, and seamer Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi as reserves for the T20 World Cup squad, awaiting an official replacement for Naveen.
Leadership Changes and Captaincy Plans at MI Cape Town
Kieron Pollard, fresh from guiding MI Emirates to the ILT20 final as runners-up, will temporarily replace Rashid at MI Cape Town. Despite captaining MI Cape Town during SA20 2024 with limited success, Pollard’s recent form has been impressive, scoring 225 runs at a striking rate of 141.50 and hitting 15 sixes in the ILT20.
Though Pollard is standing in for Rashid, MI Cape Town is expected to name a permanent captain soon, with Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton identified as the leading candidates. Rickelton has dominated the batting charts this season, scoring 324 runs at a strike rate above 167, including twin centuries against Durban’s Super Giants and Joburg Super Kings. Rashid was MI Cape Town’s most economical bowler with a bowling average of 7.92 and six wickets, alongside an aggressive batting strike rate of 171.42 across 21 balls faced.
Impact and Outlook for Afghanistan and SA20 Teams
Rashid Khan’s departure clearly signals his commitment to Rashid Khan national duty, particularly with major tournaments looming for Afghanistan. His leadership will be pivotal in navigating the side through injury setbacks and player gaps. Meanwhile, MI Cape Town faces an uncertain run in SA20 amid leadership transitions and challenging form as they strive to improve from their current low position in the standings.
As the team names a new captain and Afghanistan finalizes its World Cup lineup, the cricket world will watch closely to see how these shifts affect performances on both international and franchise stages.
