Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan has unfollowed Lahore Qalandars from his official X (formerly Twitter) account, sparking a wave of reactions across social media. The move comes shortly after Afghanistan announced its boycott of the upcoming T20 Tri-Nation Series in Pakistan following deadly border strikes.
Fans and analysts are linking Rashid’s action to the ongoing political and military tensions between the two neighboring countries. The unfollow gesture is being viewed by many as a silent protest against Pakistan amid the recent airstrike incident in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, which reportedly killed three young Afghan cricketers.
Pakistani sports journalist Qadir Khawaja reacted strongly, writing on X:
“Namak haram… and we still treat such players like family in our franchises. Nothing comes before the country. Rashid Khan unfollowed Lahore Qalandars after Afghanistan’s boycott.”
Rashid Khan, who has been a key part of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), played a vital role in their recent title runs and enjoyed immense fan support in Pakistan. However, his latest move signals the growing strain in cricketing relations between the two nations.
As of now, the Lahore Qalandars management has not issued an official statement on the matter. Analysts believe that if tensions persist, participation of Afghan players in future PSL seasons could be at risk
