Rashid Khan from Kuchi team to global fame

KABUL (Pajhwok): Rashid Khan, who started playing as a batsman for a local Kuchi tribe team, shot to internationally fame in no time by recently achieving top position among ICC ODI players ranking.

Rashid joined India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah at the top with 16 wickets in the series against Zimbabwe which Afghanistan won 4-1 to become the youngest to attain top ranking.

He also created two international records — one getting ICC top bowler’s slot in small age and breaking Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq and India’s Sachin Tandulkar’s records.

His 51 runs in two innings in the series, including a brisk 43 in the final match in Sharjah, also helped Rashid break into the top-five in the list of all-rounders while he has also moved up 11 slots to take 115th place among batsmen.

The Afghan teenage leg-spinning sensation has become the top-ranked ODI bowler, making him the youngest ever No.1 in men’s rankings history just at 7,092 days of age,.

Other Afghanistan players to gain in the latest rankings include batsmen Rahmat Shah (up 39 places to 42nd), Javed Ahmedi (up 18 places to 83rd) and Najibullah Zadran (up 23 places to 93rd) and off-spin bowler Mohammad Nabi (up seven places to 11th).

Afghanistan have gained four points to take 10th position with 55 points while Zimbabwe have lost three points to be on 50 points.

ICC, cricket media outlets, websites, renowned current and former cricket players, Afghan officials and thousands of fans have congratulated Rashid Khan on his sensational achievements.

Hailing from Shinwari district of Nangarhar, Rashid Khan was born in September 1998 and he is currently 19-year-old.

Besides his heroic performance for the national team, Khan has played for international clubs and is playing for Bangladesh’s Camilla Victories, Sunrisers Hydarabad, Adelaide Strikers, Guyana Amazon Warriors and has recently joined English Sussex

Former national cricket player and current coach, Hasti Gul Abid, said that Rashid Khan started cricket as a batsman.

“Like some other Afghans, Rashid Khan had also lived in Pakistan’s Peshawar city as a refugee with his family. He learnt cricket during his migration in Pakistan. Besides cricket, he was getting education and was a teacher in a course,” he said.

Few years back when Afghanistan-A cricket team participated in a match in Peshawar, Rashid Khan made 70 runs against his rival team, Abid added.

Rashid Khan then joined the Kuchi team as opener and participated in domestic competitions, he added.

“I was a member of the selection committee that time when we added Rashid Khan as a member of the under 19 cricket team. Their first trip was to Pakistan, another top player who participated in the Pakistan match was Farid Malak who took seven wickets,” he said. In his trip to Pakistan, Rashid Khan made fifty runs.

Rashid Khan was given chance in the national cricket team very soon after he shined in the U19 side, Abid added.

About the talent of Khan, Abid said: “He has natural talent, such ability could be found in a very limited number of players, only one could be found in thousands.”

Cricket fans around the world are also amazed and comment about Khan’s talent, he said.

Rashid Khan secured second position as batsman in T20 games and fourth position among all rounders in ODI matches.

He participated in 37 ODI matches and took 86 wickets as made 545 runs including two fifties. He also attended 29 T20 matches and took 47 wickets and made 100 runs. Khan had also played four first class (four-day) matches, taking 35 wickets.

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