Rashid pleads for peaceful Afghanistan, Pakistan clash after 2019 violence

Rashid Khan has pleaded with Afghanistan and Pakistan fans to behave when the two neighbours meet in the T20 World Cup on Friday after a match in England two years ago was scarred by fighting and a pitch invasion. 
Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid played in that 50-over World Cup game at a packed Headingley in Leeds in 2019. 

His side suffered an agonising defeat but the result was overshadowed by violence and scuffles inside and outside the stadium. 

Players needed security escorts off the pitch as fans poured out of the terraces. 

Friday’s game in Dubai could be tense as both teams are undefeated and chasing semi-final places. 
A weekend capacity crowd is expected from amongst the huge expatriate population of both nations who live and work in the Gulf. 

“Definitely it’s always a good game against Pakistan, but this should remain as a game,” Rashid said yesterday. 
“I request all the fans to stay cool and calm and just enjoy the game. What happened in the 2019 match should not have happened.” Rashid claimed four wickets and fellow spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman took five as Afghanistan started their T20 World Cup in style, bowling out Scotland for just 60 in reply to their mammoth 190-4. 
However, the Afghanistan team came into the tournament under the threat of a ban due to the ruling Taliban government’s hard-line stance on women’s sport.