Afghanistan's cricket captain, Rashid Khan, has publicly criticized the media for labeling his team as the "second-best Asian side," particularly following their performance in the Asia Cup 2025. He clarified that this tag was not something the team had claimed for themselves.

Rashid expressed his frustration that the media's narrative had led to unfair criticism and mockery of the team after their exit from the Asia Cup 2025. Afghanistan failed to progress beyond the group stage after suffering defeats against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This early exit sparked disappointment among fans and experts, which was further fueled by the "second-best" label.

Addressing the media ahead of Afghanistan's T20I series against Bangladesh in Sharjah, Rashid emphasized that the team had never proclaimed themselves as the second-best in Asia. He stated, "There is one thing which is always going around in the media, people calling us the second-best Asian team... We didn't say that". He further elaborated that the tag stemmed from their past performances in major international tournaments, where they had secured victories against prominent teams.

Rashid pointed out specific instances where Afghanistan had triumphed over major cricketing nations. He mentioned their performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals, defeating Australia and New Zealand along the way. He also highlighted wins against England in the Champions Trophy and victories over big teams in the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup. "We went to the semi-finals in 2024, that's why people gave us this 'second-best' tag," Rashid said. "We beat New Zealand, we beat Australia, big teams… That's why we got this tag".

He acknowledged that these past performances had led to the "second-best" tag but insisted that the team's focus was always on improving and performing to the best of their ability on any given day. He added that sometimes things don't go as planned, which is a part of the game.

Rashid voiced his concern about the increasing trend of using the media to create narratives that encourage making fun of players and teams. He felt that such behavior was going too far and "doesn't look nice". He defended his team's efforts in the Asia Cup 2025, reiterating their commitment to strive to be the better side in every match. He stressed the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and a hunger to perform well.

Looking ahead, Rashid emphasized that the team's focus is firmly on the future and building a strong squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. He stressed that every match is a learning opportunity, and they are committed to building a balanced and competitive squad. Despite the disappointment of the Asia Cup 2025, Rashid Khan's comments highlight his frustration with the media's narrative and his determination to ensure his team continues to improve and compete at the highest level.