Adelaide Strikers spinner Rashid Khan has called for the Big Bash League (BBL) to be shortened amid the rise of COVID-19 cases.

Earlier this week, Rashid recorded 6 for 17 against Brisbane Heat, helping Strikers bag a 71-run victory at the Gabba. It was the Afghanistan national’s best bowling figures in the T20 format and the third-best in the history of BBL.

Rashid was also the first bowler in T20 cricket to dismiss five batsmen for a duck in a match. The 23-year-old spinner was also the first bowler to take at least 15 wickets in each of their first five BBL seasons. Watch BBL live match online.

Following the impressive show with the ball, the leg-spinner flew out of Australia to join his international side in Qatar for a series against the Netherlands.

“It’s a bit long, to be honest,” Rashid said with a laugh.

“I have been here for the last 50 days and we have three games left, then the finals – if we go through – and then international duties come in the middle as well. I would love to have it in a month. That allows everyone to be there and stay until the finals and then finish up for the team. Especially nowadays with the Covid stuff going on, it does affect you mentally. Being in the bubble, you hardly go out. You’re always in your room, having Uber Eats. It affects you mentally,” Rashid told news.com.au. Get free cricket tips here on our website.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan

Rashid has joined a list of BBL players who have called for the competition to be reduced in length, including former Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn, T20 World Cup champion Adam Zampa and Perth Scorchers fast bowler Jason Behrendorff.

“The complaints over the past couple of years have been that it’s started to drag too long, and the big thing for me was having kids and understanding how the schooling timetable works again. You want to have your finals before school goes back, because that’s when you’re going to get the bigger crowds, that’s when all the kids can still come,” Behrendorff said on SEN Breakfast.

BBL: No biosecurity protocols

Cricket Australia has been adamant about not enforcing strict biosecurity protocols despite the high number of covid-19 cases within the BBL, which has seen teams look for desperate replacements over the past couple of weeks.

“Compared to other leagues, it’s pretty easy and relaxed here. We can go have a takeaway … you are able to go outside, have a walk, have a bit of fresh air, which is hardly happening in other leagues. Hopefully, this can be the last BBL with restrictions, and we can get back to the normal life,” added Rashid in the same interview.

The 2017 season was Rashid’s maiden appearance in the BBL. He finished the campaign as BBL champion with Adelaide Strikers. Since then, Rashid has picked up 92 wickets and is the club’s highest-wicket taker of all time.

Adelaide Strikers’ next game in BBL 2021-22 is against Sydney Sixers on Monday (Jan. 17) at Adelaide Oval.

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