Rashid Khan, a star spinner for Afghanistan, will be crucial for the team as it prepares for the much awaited ICC Cricket World Cup in India. On October 7, the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led team will face Bangladesh to begin their campaign at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.
Rashid Khan talked openly about the changes he has made to his bowling over the years before to the main event.
“My speed and quickness were both acquired while playing at home. My brothers could easily defend if I bowled like a typical wrist spinner since the ball would turn slowly. I created variations because I had to make a change, according to Rashid, who was quoted by The Daily Star.
The 25-year-old leg spinner first caught the attention of selectors because, like his idol, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, he was a hard-hitting batter who could also bowl.
“Afridi is a player that is well-liked throughout the world. When he arrived, he would strike four, five, or six sixes, amuse, and then depart. If you look at his record, he doesn’t have many centuries.
Nawroz Mangal, Afghanistan’s first international captain, spoke of Rashid’s potential in local competition at the same time by recalling the then-coach Inzamam-ul-Haq remarking, “What a player Rashid is.”
Inzamam-ul-Haq, a legendary player for Pakistan, was our coach in 2015, and upon seeing Rashid, he exclaimed, “What a player he is,” which led to his selection for the tour of Zimbabwe, according to Mangal.
Rashid’s World Cup debut in 2019 was forgettable because on sluggish British grounds, he only managed to pick up six wickets in nine games, all of which Afghanistan lost. He allowed 110 runs to be scored by England in nine overs at Old Trafford, including 11 sixes, the most ever by a bowler in a 50-over match. But he believes that the spin-friendlier Indian pitches would give him the chance to shine, and he wants to inspire the next generation.
“If you work hard and believe in yourself, you can reach wherever you want to,” claimed Rashid, who has 172 ODI wickets with a best return of 7-18 and a pitiful average of 19.53. The 25-year-old continued, “It’s a terrific example for all those kids who have just started.