INTERVIEW: Rising star Rashid Khan is dreaming big with Afghanistan

Denzil Pinto 00:25 06/12/2017
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  • Rashid Khan was the No1 pick.

    It’s hard to believe that Rashid Khan only made his international debut as a 17-year-old teenager two years ago but his sheer potential has already got people discussing how great he could be.

    Ever since donning the Afghanistan national colours for the first time in the 58-run ODI victory over Zimbabwe in October 2015, the only way has been up and his journey has been nothing short than a fairytale story.

    A young man whose road began by playing tennis ball cricket in the streets of Nagrahar province of Afghanistan, Rashid has now emerged as the face of the national team.

    Not bad for someone who is just 19.

    From the outset, it would have seemed hard to top his 2016 season – which yielded 45 international wickets across ODI and T20 formats – but he has improved greatly this year.

    The first chapter came in February during the IPL auction when Sunrisers Hyderabad splashed out Rs 4 crores to bring in the most-sought Associate nation cricketer.

    When his biggest stage came in April, he didn’t disappoint. In fact, he could not have started the T20 league any better considering he took two wickets in the 35-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore on the opening day.

    Mandeep Singh and Travis Head were the unlucky victims on that evening and by the time Rashid flew back from India at the end of the tournament, big names Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina and Aaron Finch were among his 17 scalps from 14 matches.

    But that was just the start of things to come with Guyana Amazon Warriors splashing out $60,000 for his services in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)

    Again he enhanced his reputation as one of the world’s best when he put himself into the record books by becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the victory over defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs.

    Rashid became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the CPL.

    Rashid became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the CPL.

    By that time, Rashid had already been labelled the ‘million dollar baby’ by his international team-mates and  those dollars will certainly keep rolling in over the next three months considering Quetta Gladiators and Adelaide Strikers have snapped him up for their respective Pakistan Super League and Big Bash League campaigns.

    In between his T20 league stints, Rashid has continued to excel for his country. His first T20 five-wicket haul (5-3) came against Ireland in March this year, which is the joint fourth-best in T20 internationals.

    Another highlight came against West Indies in the 63-run victory at Gros Islet where he ripped through the batting order to come away with 7-18. Not only was it his second five-wicket haul of the year but his figures was the fourth best in ODI history.

    So, it’s certainly been a busy and emotional 12 months for him but in his own words, it’s been a “memorable” year for him.

    “I think you can say that this year is one of the most memorable years which has been a dream for me,” Rashid told Sport360° during Afghanistan’s ICC Intercontinental Cup match against the UAE at Sheikh Zayed Stadium last weekend.

    “This year, I played in all the major T20 leagues and also played many times for my country. I made some records and recorded good bowling figures and it was a really good year for me.

    “I really enjoyed myself and playing under different coaches and learnt from all of them as they have different experiences and knowledge. I played in the IPL, Caribbean Premier League and my country where we played in Zimbabwe and West Indies, and I got a lot of confidence. Inshallah, I’ll try my best to do the same in 2018.

    Rashid's spell of 7-18 blew away the West Indies earlier in the year.

    Rashid’s spell of 7-18 blew away the West Indies earlier in the year.

    “For sure the IPL was fantastic. It was only my second match against Gujarat Lions when I took the wickets of Suresh Raina, Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch. They were three big wickets because they are the big players in T20 cricket. To get that in India and in the IPL was a proud moment for me and my country.”

    He could well steal the limelight again in 2018 for Quetta Gladiators when the third edition of the PSL is held in the UAE. Sharing the dressing room with the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Jason Roy and Carlos Brathwaite is something he can look forward to.

    But with Afghanistan set to play in the pre-2019 World Cup qualifiers in March, Rashid gave his strongest hint he could have to wait another 12 months to get a piece of the PSL action.

    “I have been picked up by Quetta Gladiators but I don’t think I will play as we have a busy schedule for the upcoming months with Afghanistan,” he said. “So I don’t think I will be available for that tournament.”

    Whether he plays in PSL or not, 2018 is already shaping up to be the most important year of his career.

    With Afghanistan joining Ireland as the two newest Test nations, Rashid will have a chance to torment the elite batsmen on a more regular basis against the world’s best, rather than Associate nations.

    Their 10-wicket triumph over the UAE on Saturday saw them regain the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup and Rashid sent out another reminder that he can also be lethal in the five-day game by taking the man of the match award with his 8-152.

    Discussions are already underway of when Afghanistan could make their Test debut with Zimbabwe mooted as a likely opposition.

    And it’s an opportunity that Rashid is certainly looking forward to.

    “It will be tough cricket for us,” he said. “We have just played with Associate members but now it will be a total change of scenario for us. The guys are working very hard on the field especially in fitness, bowling and batting. So we are preparing ourself for the bigger tests and challenges. Inshallah we can do well. We have the ability, we have the talent and we just to neutralise that in the right way.

    Given he has achieved all this before he’s even reached 20, Rashid says his achievements so far is not just down to him alone.

    “When I came to the national team set-up, the coaching staff and the coaching staff especially the skipper (Asghar Stanizkai) supported me. The senior guys told me I had the talent but I just needed to improve my skills more. So I got motivation from that and work hard and that’s how I try my best every day.

    The chances of him captaining his national team in all formats one day in the future is very likely. “I have already been appointed vice-captain of the team. Asghar (Stanikzai) has been leading the team for the last four years and the way he has been leading the side has been amazing.

    “I have been learning a lot from him on and off the field. Hopefully if I get the opportunity, Inshallah, I will try my best to lead.”

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