All is not well between Rashid Khan and Karim Janat? Afghanistan star breaks silence on captain's bat-throwing incident in T20 WC

Afghanistan’s bowling all-rounder Karim Janat opened up about the incident involving captain Rashid Khan during the recent ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where they scripted history by qualifying for the semifinals of the World Cup for the first-ever time.

Actually, Rashid had lost his cool on Karim after he denied taking his strike during Afghanistan’s last Super-8 match against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, the all-rounder said that this incident didn’t have any impact on his relationship with the star spinner Khan.

Karim Janat breaks silence on Rashid Khan incident during T20 World Cup 2024 thriller

Notably, an intense moment unfolded between Rashid and Janat in the last over of Afghanistan's innings against Bangladesh as they struggled to set a competitive target in their last Super-8 match. After winning the toss, Afghanistan opted to bat first. In the final over, Rashid attempted a helicopter shot aiming for the boundary, but the ball didn't travel far enough.

However, the Afghanistan captain swiftly completed the first run and pushed for a second, but Janat, who had already reached the striker's end, declined Rashid for the second run. Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad initially fumbled, but Shakib Al Hasan managed to save the boundary and throw towards the non-striker’s end to make things tense for Afghan players.

Rashid, already halfway down the pitch, was sent back by Janat, leading to an angry reaction from the Afghanistan captain during the Super-8 clash. Rashid, visibly frustrated, threw his bat towards Janat, which was captured by television cameras, and the ICC reprimanded the spin master for breaching the Code of Conduct and handed him one demerit point.

Here's the video of Rashid Khan showing anger to Karim Janat:

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Now, reacting to the incident, Janat explained that Rashid was disappointed because they missed an opportunity for a second run when the ball reached the fielder quickly. The all-rounder admitted that such moments can lead to emotions running high, but he emphasized that the unity within their team remains strong.

We are like brothers, there are no issues: Karim Janat

He highlighted their camaraderie, describing the team as close-knit like brothers who celebrate each other's successes. According to Janat, this collective spirit was crucial to their overall performance and success in the T20 World Cup 2024.

He also stressed that there is no ego in the Afghanistan team while emphasizing the importance of team play, saying the matches win through the combined efforts of all eleven players rather than relying solely on individual performances.

Karim Janat was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “The ball went to the fielder and we couldn't get two runs as a result. That is why he [Rashid] was a bit disturbed. And during a match, a lot of things like that can happen. Like the bowlers can get angry if there is a misfield but the important thing is how you adapt and stay as a unit.

There are no issues as far as the unity of our team is concerned. We are like brothers and more importantly we celebrate each other's success and that is why we did well. We don't have any ego. Cricket is a game played by 11 players and a match cannot be won through the performance of one or two players alone.”