Ahmedabad: Questions Raised Over Rashid Khan’s Captaincy After Afghanistan’s Double Super Over Defeat to South Africa in T20 World Cup
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan is facing growing criticism over his leadership following a heartbreaking double Super Over loss to South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
On Wednesday, Afghanistan suffered a crushing defeat against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, losing in a dramatic double Super Over in their Group D match.
Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to field first. South Africa posted 187 runs. Afghanistan managed to match the total at 187, forcing a Super Over.
In the first Super Over, Afghanistan batted first and scored 17 runs. South Africa also managed exactly 17 runs in reply.
After losing both Super Overs, criticism of Rashid Khan’s captaincy decisions began to mount on social media, with fans and cricket experts questioning his choices.
A prominent Indian cricket commentator posted on X: “Today’s defeat raises many questions. Should Rashid Khan have bowled in the second Super Over? Shouldn’t Gurbaz have come out to bat immediately?”
One X user wrote: “Rashid Khan is the biggest coward among players. He didn’t have the courage to bowl in the Super Overs at a ground where he has bowled for years.”
Rashid Khan is the biggest coward I’ve ever seen. He couldn’t bring himself in a super over in a ground he’s been bowling for years now. A ‘t20 legend’ who’s scared af to step up????
— ANU🚯 (@Anuphobia_007) February 11, 2026
Another user named Mudassir commented: “Rashid Khan saved his reputation by not bowling in the Super Overs.”
Rashid khan saved his reputation and didn’t bowl in both super overs
— مدثر⚘️ (@Mudasserk3) February 11, 2026
Highlighting Afghanistan’s errors, another user said: “When only 2 runs were needed off 3 balls, they unnecessarily attempted a risky second run.”
The same user added: “Rashid Khan not bowling even a single Super Over is completely unacceptable.
Sending Nabi instead of Gurbaz in the second Super Over was an utterly meaningless decision.”
It is worth noting that despite suffering defeats in both of their matches so far, Afghanistan can still qualify for the next stage, though the path ahead remains extremely difficult, but not impossible.
