Growing up in the arid village of Bati Kot in rural Afghanistan, Rashid Khan harbored dreams of becoming his family’s first doctor. However, fate had other plans for him, as he was one of 11 boys in a typically extended Afghan family – essentially a cricket team in the making. Rashid’s path to becoming the world’s top Twenty20 bowler and a cricket sensation at the World Cup in India this month was paved by his love for the game.
When the weather permitted, Rashid and his brothers would take to the outdoors, where they honed their cricket skills. But even when conditions forced them inside, they played pick-up games in the narrow corridors of their family home. It was within these confined spaces that Rashid developed his distinctive whirling action, which has become his trademark and a potent weapon in the cricketing world.
Reflecting on his unique style, the 25-year-old leg-spinner explained, “If I bowled like a normal wrist spinner, it would turn slowly, and my brothers would defend easily. I had to do something different, so I developed variations.”
Rashid initially caught the attention of selectors as a hard-hitting batsman who could also bowl, much like his idol, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi. Speaking of Afridi, Rashid said, “Afridi is one player who has fans all over the world. Check his record, he doesn’t have many centuries, but whenever he arrived, he would hit four, five, six sixes… entertain and leave.”
It was Nawroz Mangal, Afghanistan’s first international captain, who spotted Rashid’s talent during domestic competitions. Inzamam-ul-Haq, the renowned Pakistani cricketer, was the coach of the Afghanistan team in 2015 when he witnessed Rashid’s potential and got him selected for the tour of Zimbabwe.
At just 17, Rashid made his debut in Bulawayo, taking one wicket, but his action, guile, and economy quickly set him apart. Two years later, he secured a contract with the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), propelling him to stardom and establishing him as one of the leading franchise players in world cricket.
Rashid’s journey continued with appearances in Twenty20 leagues across the globe, including the Caribbean, Australia, North America, and Asia. In 2017, he received the International Cricket Council’s award for the best player from an associate nation.
In 2018, Rashid became the fastest bowler to claim 100 One Day International (ODI) wickets, achieving this milestone in just 44 matches. However, he was later surpassed by Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane by two games.
Despite his remarkable success, Rashid’s first World Cup in 2019 was a disappointment, with just six wickets in nine games, all of which Afghanistan lost. He faced a daunting challenge when England’s batsmen belted him for 110 runs in nine overs at Old Trafford, including 11 sixes, setting a record for the most sixes off a bowler in an ODI.
Rashid, however, is optimistic about his prospects at this year’s World Cup, given the more spin-friendly pitches in India. He hopes to use this platform to inspire the next generation of Afghan cricketers.
His message to young cricketers is simple but powerful: “If you work hard and believe in yourself, you can reach wherever you want to. It’s a good example for all those youngsters who have just started.”
Rashid Khan’s journey from a rural Afghan village to global cricket stardom is a testament to his dedication, talent, and determination, inspiring aspiring cricketers and fans around the world.
