Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan continues to make waves in the IPL with his latest performance earning plaudits from all quarters.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad leg-spinner put in a sensational all-round performance in the second Qualifier against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday to lead his team into the final. The 19-year-old smashed an unbeaten 34 of just 10 balls before going on to claim three crucial wickets to turn the game in Hyderabad’s favour.
The spin prodigy has now taken his tournament tally to 21 wickets. After his man-of-the-match performance, social media was awash with Indian fans asking for Rashid Khan to be granted citizenship of the country.
Those calls made Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani take notice and the country’s premier took to Twitter to set the record straight.
Telling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he had no intention of giving Rashid away, the Afghan President lauded the spinner for his heroics.
“Afghans take absolute pride in our hero, Rashid Khan. I am also thankful to our Indian friends for giving our players a platform to show their skills. Rashid reminds us what’s best about Afghanistan. He remains an asset to the cricketing world. No we are not giving him away. @narendramodi,” he wrote on Twitter.
Afghans take absolute pride in our hero, Rashid Khan. I am also thankful to our Indian friends for giving our players a platform to show their skills. Rashid reminds us whats best about Afg. He remains an asset to the cricketing world. No we are not giving him away. @narendramodi
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) May 25, 2018
The Afghanistan President was not the only one singing Rashid’s praise on Friday with Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar going on to call the bowler the best in the T20 format.
Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne too was in awe of Rashid’s talents after Friday’s showing. Taking to Twitter, Warne wrote: “As a leg spinner I love seeing all the different types of leg spinners playing in the #IPL but watching Rashid Khan bowl in these big games makes me proud as he loves this stage & pressure it also gets me excited!”
The praise from Warne did not go unnoticed by Rashid who thanked the Australia great for his words.
Thank you so much Legspin Master @ShaneWarne 🙌🏻
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) May 25, 2018
