Rashid Khan and Afghanistan's quiet confidence before the World Cup

Rashid Khan has learned to think long-term. Even now, with another T20 World Cup around the corner and Afghanistan no longer viewed as outsiders, his mind drifts not just to the next tournament but to the years beyond it.

A visit to the Red Bull High Performance Centre left an impression, reinforcing his belief that modern cricketers survive at the top only by managing their bodies and minds with care. "The facilities were amazing. Hopefully I can go there before the 2027 World Cup and spend some time," he said.

That awareness was sharpened by a period that did not go entirely to plan. Coming off surgery, Rashid rushed back into action and felt the effects during IPL 2025. "Last season you can say that I didn't give much of myself to be fully back," he admitted. "After the IPL, I got a couple of months off… I feel now I'm fully ok. My back is absolutely fine."

The break post-IPL has influenced how he thinks about workload in a T20-dominated era. He remains committed to playing all formats for Afghanistan, but with a caveat: the body comes first. "It's just about how much I can play in a year and how much load I can put on. I don't want to be back in the same position as I was before," he explained. "You have to be very selective… and give yourself the best time to recover."

For nearly a decade, Rashid has also carried the expectations of a cricketing nation. He dismisses the idea that the weight feels different now, even if Afghanistan's status has changed. "You try to keep things simple… I feel like it's not just about the result, it's about the process you go through and the mindset and the effort you put in the ground. That's something which makes things easier."

That philosophy has helped him navigate leadership. Appointed captain at a young age, he stepped away before returning to lead Afghanistan's T20 side with greater maturity. "For me, it's not something where I'm thinking 'okay, what's going to happen? I'm the leader, I have to take wickets, I have to win the game'. No one can guarantee scoring a 100, no one can guarantee picking up five wickets. I think the only thing you can do is that, 'yes, my effort will be there, my hard work will be there'."

He now sees leadership less as in-match decision-making and more as managing people away from it. "Off the field is so important… managing the players and dealing with different players differently, I think that's something which is more important. And as someone from Afghanistan… you set an example there."

Afghanistan's rise has not happened overnight, Rashid insists. He points to the influx of young players around 2021 and 2022, and the patience shown in giving them time to grow. Exposure to global leagues has accelerated that development. "I think leagues play a main role in developing players to be better… So I think the leagues also played a main role in improving Afghanistan cricket."

Setbacks remain part of the journey. Afghanistan's Asia Cup campaign was a reminder of the margins at the highest level. Rashid is candid about where things went wrong—batting collapses, missed opportunities, and areas like death bowling that need improvement. "Against teams like these, you need to be having not many mistakes… I feel like we will be a much better side in the World Cup."

As Afghanistan enter another big tournament, the conversation has shifted. No longer labelled a surprise package, they arrive with recent results to back their belief. "No matter where we end up in this competition, it's just about us, like how much effort and hard work we put in," he said. "And that's something that's going to decide which way we're going to end the World Cup… It's all about us. It's not about being favourites or not."

Experience could play its part. Wins against Pakistan in Chennai and England in Delhi during the 2023 ODI World Cup remain reference points, as they play three of their four group fixtures in these two venues. Conditions may be familiar, but Rashid knows nothing carries over automatically. "You still have to bring your A-game," he said, noting his side also lost a game each in those venues before notching the famous wins.

There are no bold predictions in Rashid's assessment. Instead, there is a recurring emphasis on effort and preparation. For a team that once relied purely on belief, that measured clarity may be the clearest sign of how far Afghanistan cricket has come.