{{Short description|Afghan cricketer and cricket administrator}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Asadullah Khan | image = File:Asadullah Khan Afghanistan Former Cricketer.jpg | caption = Former Professional Cricketer, ICC Level 3 Certified Coach, High-Performance Cricket Educator | country = Afghanistan | fullname = Asadullah Khan | birth_date = | birth_place = Afghanistan | batting = Right-Handed | bowling = Right-Arm Off Spin | role = Coach | international = true | coachclub1 = Qatar | coachyear1 = 2021-2023 | club1 = Afghanistan | year1 = 2003–2008
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/asadullah-khan-387422 ESPNcricinfo | date = 23 March | year = 2026 }}
'''Asadullah Khan''' is an Afghan former cricketer, coach, and cricket administrator. He has served in multiple roles within the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), including chief selector and acting chief executive officer. He has also worked as head coach of the Qatar national cricket team and as tournament director for the Gulf Cup 2025.
== Playing career == Asadullah Khan is a former domestic cricketer who played as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan Profile |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/asadullah-khan-387422 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan Profile |url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/11043/asadullah-khan |website=Cricbuzz |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
=== Early international involvement ===
Khan was part of Afghanistan's squad in their first recorded international match against Oman during the 2004 ACC Trophy held in Malaysia, where he scored the team's first run.<ref>{{cite web |title=Afghanistan v Oman, ACC Trophy 2004 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/acc-trophy-2004-304334/afghanistan-vs-oman-304335/full-scorecard |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
He later contributed to the development and promotion of cricket in Tajikistan through his involvement with the Tajikistan Cricket Federation.
=== Coaching and development ===
Khan has been part of the ICC High Performance Program during 2014, 2015, and 2016, contributing to elite-level cricket development initiatives.
He has also served in coaching and development roles across multiple international assignments, including in Afghanistan, Qatar, Canada, and the United States.
In addition to his cricketing career, Khan represented Afghanistan in a Guinness World Record yoga event held in Doha, Qatar, in March 2022, under the aegis of the Embassy of India.
== Administrative and coaching career ==
=== Afghanistan Cricket Board === Khan has held several key positions within the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), including serving as chief selector of the national team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan back as Afghanistan chief selector |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/asadullah-khan-back-as-afghanistan-chief-selector-1381194 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
He previously resigned from the role of chief selector in 2021, citing interference from non-cricketers in the selection process.<ref>{{cite web |title=Afghanistan chief selector Asadullah Khan steps down |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/afghanistan-chief-selector-asadullah-khan-steps-down/articleshow/84944618.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
In June 2023, he was reappointed as Afghanistan's chief selector, replacing Noorulhaq Malikzai.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan named Afghanistan's new head selector |url=https://www.ariananews.af/cricket-asadullah-khan-named-afghanistans-new-head-selector/ |website=Ariana News |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan returns as Afghanistan chief selector |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/cricket/asadullah-khan-replaces-noorulhaq-malikzai-to-returns-as-afghanistans-chief-selector202306130829561553 |website=ANI News |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
He has also served as acting chief executive officer of the Afghanistan Cricket Board.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan returns as Afghanistan chief selector |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/cricket/asadullah-khan-replaces-noorulhaq-malikzai-to-returns-as-afghanistans-chief-selector202306130829561553 |website=ANI News |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
=== Coaching career === Khan has worked as head coach of the Qatar national cricket team before returning to Afghanistan cricket administration.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan back as Afghanistan chief selector |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/asadullah-khan-back-as-afghanistan-chief-selector-1381194 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
=== Gulf Cup 2025 === In 2025, Khan was appointed as the tournament director for the Gulf Cup 2025, a youth cricket tournament held in Sharjah.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan joins Gulf Cup as director |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/cricket/ex-afghanistan-cricketer-asadullah-khan-expresses-excitement-at-association-with-gulf-cup-as-director202511081532550026/ |website=ANI News |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-Afghanistan cricketer Asadullah Khan expresses excitement at association with Gulf Cup as director |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sports/ex-afghanistan-cricketer-asadullah-khan-expresses-excitement-at-association-with-gulf-cup-as-director-582775 |website=The Tribune |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
== Public statements == Khan has publicly commented on cricket-related issues, including criticising the politicisation of cricket in relation to Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asadullah Khan hits out at Australia for politicising cricket |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/cricket/asadullah-khan-hits-out-at-australia-for-politicising-cricket-backs-afghanistans-right-to-play/cid/2021091 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
He has also acknowledged the role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the development of Afghanistan cricket.<ref>{{cite web |title=India has supported our cricket since a long time |url=https://thesportstak.com/cricket/story/india-has-supported-our-cricket-since-a-long-time-afghanistan-cricket-board-chief-selector-asadullah-khan-585390 |website=SportsTak |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Living people Category:Afghan cricketers Category:Afghan cricket coaches Category:Cricket administrators Category:Year of birth missing (living people)