Tag: Rashid Khan

Afghanistan’s premier leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, has made a remarkable revelation about his career, sharing that he turned down offers of citizenship and the chance to represent both India and Australia in international cricket.

The disclosure comes through his autobiography, Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom, where the 27-year-old sheds light on a defining moment that underlined his unwavering commitment to Afghanistan cricket.

According to Rashid, one such approach came during the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he was representing the Gujarat Titans. He revealed that he was told that a senior figure in Indian cricket wanted to meet him

“I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: The situation in your country is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here,” Rashid revealed.

The star spinner admitted the conversation caught him off guard, but his response was immediate and firm.

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“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan,” he wrote.

Rashid Khan further disclosed that India were not the only ones to express interest. Australia had also explored the possibility of bringing him into their cricketing system, a testament to his stature in world cricket.

“I received such offers from both Australia and India. But I told them, ‘If I don’t play for my country, I won’t play for any other country either,’” he stated.

The leg-spinner’s decision reflects not just personal loyalty, but also his role as a symbol of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket. Emerging from a war-affected nation, Rashid has become one of the most recognisable figures in the sport.

Since his debut, he has represented Afghanistan across all formats, featuring in 6 Tests, 117 ODIs and 115 T20Is, while picking up a combined 448 wickets. With the bat, he has contributed over 2,000 runs, further highlighting his all-round value.

READ: Pakistan’s Test selections raise more questions than answers

Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan has admitted that playing Test cricket on a regular basis may no longer be realistic for him, as he continues to manage ongoing back issues that have significantly shaped his workload across formats.

The 27-year-old, one of the most influential white-ball bowlers in world cricket, said medical advice has played a key role in his decision to step back from red-ball cricket, with a long-term focus now on preserving his career in limited-overs formats.

Speaking after a match-winning spell for the Gujarat Titans against the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 in Delhi, Rashid opened up about the physical challenges that have forced him to rethink his involvement in Test cricket.

“Red-ball cricket is a little difficult because that was the first thing my doctor told me to stay away from red-ball cricket,” Rashid said. “I still went ahead and played.”

He revealed that following his back surgery in 2023, he was specifically advised to avoid the longest format due to the strain it places on his body.

“The doctor told me that if you don’t want to play cricket, you can keep playing red-ball cricket. He said it’s not going to help me and that I won’t be able to play for long,” he added.

Rashid Khan, who captains Afghanistan in T20Is, underwent surgery in the United Kingdom after playing through the ODI World Cup in 2023 while carrying an injury.

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Although he made a return to competitive cricket in 2024, the demands of continuous franchise and international cricket soon took a toll again, forcing him to reassess his schedule.

The spinner also reflected on the workload he has carried in the longest format, revealing how physically demanding his limited Test experience has been.

“In my last two Test matches, I bowled 126 overs, which is simply too much,” he said. “If I bowl a spell of 20–25 overs, I have to bowl the whole day. You can’t do that to yourself.”

Rashid has now indicated that he may restrict himself to just one Test per year, while prioritising ODI cricket and major tournaments such as the 2027 World Cup, where Afghanistan will be looking to build on their recent progress in the format.

“So yes, I will think about it. But ODI cricket, I really enjoy that format. I am in good shape to play ODIs for a longer period for Afghanistan,” he said. “Red-ball cricket is something that looks a bit difficult for me.”

Since Afghanistan gained Test status in 2017, opportunities in the format have been limited, and Rashid Khan himself has played only six Tests, though he has still managed to take 45 wickets at an impressive average of 20.44.

He briefly returned to red-ball cricket in early 2025 against Zimbabwe, where he produced a standout performance with 11 wickets in the match, but recurring back problems soon resurfaced later in the season, again affecting his rhythm.

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Afghanistan replaced Rashid Khan with Ibrahim Zadran as skipper Thursday for the T20I series against Sri Lanka but are still monitoring the situation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stage the matches.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said Zadran’s appointment is in alignment for future build-up.

“In alignment with the ACB’s long-term strategic vision and following recent changes in our team management, we have made the thoughtful decision to appoint Zadran as new T20I skipper,” ACB said in a statement.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the team in the ODI series, which follows the T20Is.

The series begins with three Twenty20 internationals in Sharjah on March 13, 15, and 17 before the ODIs are played in Dubai on March 20, 22, and 25.

Afghanistan crashed out in the first round of the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka after losing to South Africa and New Zealand.

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As a fall out, fast bowler Fazal Haq Farooqi, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq have been left out from both the squads, the release said.

Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, also left the post after completing his tenure, with another Englishman, Richard Pybus, taking over.

ACB said it was constantly monitoring the situation in the UAE before making a final decision.

“We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation in the region and a final decision will be made in a couple of days,” ACB said.

“Should circumstances necessitate a change, the ACB will consider exploring alternative options for both the host country and the event schedule.”

Afghanistan’s T20I Squad:

Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Rahman, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai

Afghanistan’s ODI Squad:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Bilal Sami

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Afghanistan selectors, on Wednesday, rested Rashid Khan for the one-off Test in Zimbabwe later this month, but the ace spinner will lead the T20I squad.

The 27-year-old had back surgery in 2023, and selectors want to keep him fit for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

“Rashid will be rested for the Test as a precaution for the upcoming international events, mainly the World Cup,” said the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

The Test match will be played from October 20 to 24, while the three T20Is are scheduled for October 29, 31, and November 2, all in Harare.

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The squad includes some fresh faces who have done well at the domestic level.

Left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad, who recently made appearances in ODIs and T20Is for Afghanistan, is in the Test squad.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the Test team. Since gaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan have played just 11 Tests, winning four of them.

Afghanistan Test Squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhel, Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, Bashir Ahmad

Afghanistan T20I Squad

Rashid Khan (capt), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai

READ: Shan Masood lauds team effort after Test victory over South Africa

DUBAI: Afghanistan’s star all-rounder Rashid Khan has climbed back to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings, overtaking South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj following a stellar performance in the 3-0 series win against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.

Rashid was at his vintage best, picking up 11 wickets across the three matches to spearhead Afghanistan’s historic first-ever ODI series sweep over their Asian rivals.

The leg-spinner’s dominance has seen him rise five places to reclaim the No.1 position in the world, a spot previously held by Maharaj, who now sits second. Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana completes the top three.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s opening batter Ibrahim Zadran has surged eight places to reach second in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings.

He is sitting just 20 rating points behind India’s Shubman Gill, who retains the top spot. India’s former skipper Rohit Sharma holds third, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam has slipped to fourth with 739 points.

Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz also gained two spots to 16th, and veteran Mohammad Nabi climbed six places to equal 50th.

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From Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman retained their positions at 25th and 27th, respectively.

Salman Agha and Imam-ul-Haq both moved up one place to 39th and 41st, while Saim Ayub sits 54th and Abdullah Shafique 98th.

In the ODI bowling rankings, Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi is currently ranked 15th, followed by Haris Rauf (29th), Abrar Ahmed (38th), and Naseem Shah (43rd).

Afghanistan’s dominance continued in the all-rounders’ category as well; Azmatullah Omarzai displaced Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza to claim the No.1 position after taking seven wickets in the Bangladesh series.

Mohammad Nabi is now third, while Rashid Khan rose two spots to fourth, further solidifying Afghanistan’s presence across formats.

From Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha remains 20th, Shaheen Afridi is 28th, Naseem Shah is 37th, and Haris Rauf has climbed to 54th.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi hails Pakistan team after Test win over South Africa

ABU DHABI: Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid etched his name into record books, joining former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq in an elite list.

Rashid spun a web around Bangladesh in the second ODI at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, which dismissed the Tigers for a mere 109 runs.

Set a partly 191, Bangladesh’s batting line faltered under pressure and were eventually bowled, which handed Afghanistan a comprehensive 81-run victory.

The leg-spinner picked five for 17 in 8.3 overs while giving away only 17.

With this feat, he entered an elite list of spinners and levelled with Mushtaq for bowlers who have taken the most six-five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket.

Most five-wicket hauls in ODIs among spinners

Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka) – 10 five-wicket hauls

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 9 five-wicket hauls

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 6 five-wicket hauls

Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) – 6 five-wicket hauls

Overall, Rashid now sits in the eighth position of bowlers who have taken more five-fors in 50-over cricket. Former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis topped the list with 13 five-fors in this format.

Most five-wicket hauls in ODIs

Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 13 five-wicket hauls

Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka) – 10 five-wicket hauls

Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 9 five-wicket hauls

Brett Lee (Australia) – 9 five-wicket hauls

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 9 five-wicket hauls

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 8 five-wicket hauls

Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 7 five-wicket hauls

Mohammed Shami (India) – 6 five-wicket hauls

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 6 five-wicket hauls

READ: Imam, Shan hold firm after Rabada’s early blow

SHARJAH: Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has shared his thoughts regarding the ‘second-best in Asia’ tag, stating that his team’s goal is to improve their performances.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Rashid said that they have not called them the second-best side.

“There’s always talk about us being the second-best team in Asia, but that’s not something we claimed ourselves,” he said.

The spin wizard highlighted Afghanistan’s past performances and stressed the need for improvement in their performance.

“That label came because of our past performances. If you look back — Asia Cup, World Cup semi-finals, ODI World Cup — we’ve beaten some top sides. Even in the Champions Trophy, we defeated England. Of course, in the future, if we don’t play well, we could slip to third, fourth, fifth, or lower,” he continued.

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“Our goal is simply to improve as a team and deliver on the day. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t — that’s cricket. What matters is staying hungry to perform and aiming to get better every time. The whole ‘second-best in Asia’ narrative is just something the media has created, not us,” Rashid concluded.

For context, Afghanistan is currently playing a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Notably, after being eliminated from the Asia Cup 2025 group stage, they started their series against the Tigers on a poor note as well.

Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by four wickets in the T20I opener at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

After opting to bat first, Afghanistan could only muster 151 for 9 in their 20 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 40 from 31 balls, studded with three sixes and two fours.

In reply, Bangladesh hit the winning runs in 18.4 overs, courtesy of a strong opening foundation. Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan starred with the bat, both scoring half-centuries.

Despite the defeat, Rashid Khan remained the standout bowler for Afghanistan, picking up a four-wicket haul in his quota of four overs.

The second T20I between the two teams is currently underway at the same venue, with Bangladesh eyeing a series win after opting to bowl first.

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SHARJAH: Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan lauded bowlers for their performance in an 18-run victory over Pakistan in the fourth fixture of the tri-series clash here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Afghanistan outperformed Pakistan by limiting them to a score of 151 for 9 in 20 overs. Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi picked up two scalps each to seal a thrilling win for the side.

In the batting department, Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran starred again. The pair put on a mammoth 113-run stand for the second wicket, with both registering half-centuries to set up Afghanistan’s total.

After the match, Rashid Khan reflected on the importance of the team combination and bench strength.

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“If you bowl in the right areas and with the bowling we have, it is manageable and defendable. That is a kind of tactic.

We have that bench strength. It is not just about the playing eleven. Whoever gets the opportunity can do the job. We decide based on the opposition and who might be useful on that wicket,” he said on the playing combination.

He praised Atal and Zadran for their valuable contributions, stating that they are just on the beginning of their journey.

“Two great players, just the beginning for them. The way they are taking responsibility and reading conditions, they are doing it so well. They understand if we can keep wickets, we can score maximum runs,” Rashid explained.

The all-rounder also emphasized his batting order, noting that he wants to give his batters ample opportunity ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.

That is something which I have been hearing a lot. Last four overs, I feel I can go . But most of the batters, they have not batted much, so give them an opportunity where they can hit a couple of shots and get confidence. That confidence is needed, so I try my best to go lower in the order,” he concluded.

READ: Salman Ali Agha opens up after defeat to Afghanistan in tri-series clash

SHARJAH: Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid Khan on Monday created history by becoming the leading wicket-taker in the T20Is, surpassing former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee.

Rashid achieved the feat during Afghanistan’s clash against the UAE in a tri-series clash.

The right-arm spinner weaved his magic with the ball, taking three wickets for 21 in his quota of four overs.

He surpassed former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee’s tally of 164 wickets on the 15th over of the game.

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With the help of his bowling spell, Afghanistan romped to a 38-run win over the hosts.

Most Wickets in T20Is 

Rashid Khan (AFG) – 98 matches, 165 wickets

TG Southee (NZ) – 126 matches, 164 wickets

IS Sodhi (NZ) – 126 matches, 150 wickets

Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) – 129 matches, 149 wickets

Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) – 113 matches, 142 wickets

In pursuit of the 189-run target, UAE could only muster 150 runs for 8 in their allocated 20 overs.

Muhammad Waseem top-scored for UAE with 67 off 37 balls, hitting six maximums and four boundaries, whereas Rahul Chopra scored an unbeaten 52 off 35 balls with the aid of three fours and an equal number of sixes.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, Afghanistan posted 188 for 4 in their 20 overs, thanks to Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran’s half-centuries.

Sediqullah Atal made 54 off 30 balls with Ibrahim Zadran scoring 63 off 40, with the aid of four maximums and three fours.

Afghanistan will face Pakistan tomorrow at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium

READ: Zadran, Rashid help Afghanistan rout UAE in tri-series clash

SHARJAH: Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan rued the loss of momentum and the quick wickets in the middle overs for his side’s defeat in the opening match of the tri-series against Pakistan here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Afghanistan were handed a 39-run defeat, and at the halfway mark of the innings, they were cruising with 85-2.

However, in the middle overs, Afghanistan lost the plot, and a collapse sparked by Haris Rauf’s double-wicket maiden left them in dire straits.

After the match, Rashid mentioned his quick-fire knock in which he made 39 from just 16 balls.

“We had it in our mind…that run-rate is something that matters. As long as I can try my best to get close to the target, and luckily we got some runs there,” he said.

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“I feel this is a wicket of 190-200. The lesser we restrict them to, it is a plus for us. Anything 170-175, we are happy to chase. We lost so many wickets (in the overs between 11-15) and that did not give us the momentum (towards the end), ” he expressed his disappointment.

Rashid Khan highlighted the key moment in the match, calling it essential for T20 cricket.

“If we had a couple of good overs between overs 11-16, we could have chased it. That is what T20s is about – you cannot lose momentum and once you do, it is tough.”

“At such times, you cannot play risky shots. You can play your shots, but you have to take a bit of time. You can take singles and rotate strike, and that keeps the pressure off you.

We had a maiden over with two wickets. Four balls, four singles (instead), the momentum could have been different. Rotating strike is key,” he concluded.

READ: Salman Ali Agha hails bowlers after dominant display against Afghanistan