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The MI New York team in the Major League Cricket (MLC) have suffered a major blow as their key Afghanistan players, Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai, are unlikely to participate in the upcoming tournament.
According to a report, Rashid and Azmatullah have opted out of the tournament, citing a break from cricket.
Rashid Khan was pivotal for Mumbai in the last MLC season, where he bagged 10 wickets at an average of 6.15, despite his team finishing fourth with just two wins in seven matches.
Rashid and Omarzai last participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025, representing the Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings, respectively.
In addition, three Afghan players—Naveen-ul-Haq (MI New York), Noor Ahmed (Texas Super Kings), and Waqar Salamkheil (Seattle Orcas)—have joined their teams for the upcoming MLC 2025, set to start on Friday.
Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi, two Afghan players contracted with the Seattle Orcas, are still awaiting their visas, as reported.
The uncertainty surrounding Afghan players’ involvement in the league is due to a recent travel ban imposed by the United States.
This ban does, however, contain an exemption for “any athlete or member of an athletic team travelling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other significant sporting events as determined by the Secretary of State.”
Consequently, tournament organisers remain optimistic about the participation of Afghan players.
It’s worth noting that the third season of the MLC is set to kick off on June 12, featuring last year’s finalists, the Washington Freedom and San Francisco, going head-to-head at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California.
