Rashid Khan baggage ICC T20I Cricketer of the Decade award: What does it imply to Afghanistan?

Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Rashid Khan
Because the world is so mesmerised by the shimmer and fast nature of the T20 format, it has forgotten what resurgence and persistence appear to be. A couple of years in the past, a naive Rashid Khan, in all probability taking part in tape-ball cricket in a nation not notably recognized for its intimacy with cricket, may solely dream of what he is change into right now. Born in Nangarhar, japanese Afghanistan, Rashid has had his fair proportion of troubles, which included fleeing to Pakistan with household and discovering solace away from the Afghan battle.

Fast ahead to the current day and it seems that Rashid, presently 22, pipped the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to bag the celebrated ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Decade award. Labelled as the most effective modern-day tweakers, Rashid’s journey in worldwide cricket is a testomony to his perseverance and onerous work. The Afghanistan celebrity, who’s now greater than only a family title in his nation, took world cricket by storm together with his quick but influential stint, particularly within the T20 type of the sport.

Rashid himself was left ‘speechless’ after receiving the highest honour from the ICC. More than being a private milestone, he knew what the award meant for his beloved nation, beforehand recognized for every part however cricket. What’s much more spectacular is the truth that Rashid climbed as much as win the highest honour in simply 5 years, additionally elevating Afghanistan cricket through the course of his journey up to now.

🇦🇫 RASHID KHAN is the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade 👏👏☝️ Highest wicket-taker within the #ICCAwards interval ➜ 89🅰️ 12.62 common 🤯 💥 Three four-wicket hauls, two five-fors What a narrative ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y59Y6nCs98— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020

“I am speechless after this award. For someone from Afghanistan to get this award, it’s a special moment for me, for my country and my fans,” he stated in a video posted on ICC’s Twitter web page.

The leg-spinner, additionally recognized for his fiery batting cameos, stepped into worldwide cricket in 2015. In a span of simply 5 years, Rashid escalated to the highest of the pile, having scalped 84 wickets at an astounding common of 12.62. During the interval, he has additionally registered three four-wicket hauls and two fifers. 

His wicket-taking spree in T20Is additionally comprised his blitzkrieg in opposition to Ireland the place he plucked 4 wickets in 4 deliveries, turning into solely the second bowler to take action within the historical past of worldwide cricket after Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga. His financial system price can be phenomenal, conceding simply 6.14 runs per over in a format the place batsmen are predominantly within the driver’s seat.  

💬 “I am speechless after this award and happy for the fans. For someone from Afghanistan to get this award, it’s a special moment for me.”📽️ Rashid Khan’s heartwarming response to profitable the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade award 👏#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/l404BarWId— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020

Despite not being coached all his life, Rashid, an incredible exponent of the artwork of spin bowling, is presently fancied by nearly each home franchise throughout the globe. The leg-spinner’s fairytale in world cricket began in 2015 together with his ODI debut in opposition to Zimbabwe. A yr and a half later, he was courted by a number of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises within the public sale till SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) fetched him for a whopping INR 4 crores. The tweaker was additionally among the many two first-ever Afghan gamers to be chosen for the IPL.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Shahid Afridi and Anil Kumble, Rashid, very quickly, was up in opposition to ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle in a jam-packed Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, residence to the Hyderabad franchise. 

Despite not being an incredible turner of the ball, Rashid immediately left a mark together with his tempo and leg-spin variations, every with a unique motion. He picked up two wickets on his IPL debut in opposition to Royal Challengers Bangalore because the Hyderabad facet pocketed the match by 35 runs. Just after a yr, Rashid was taking part in his one hundredth T20 recreation, indicating his upsurge within the shortest format.

Even Sachin Tendulkar, in awe of Rashid’s ability, had labelled him one of the best bowler of the T20 format in 2018. “I all the time felt Rashid Khan was a very good spinner however now I wouldn’t hesitate in saying he’s one of the best spinner on the earth on this format,” the legendary Indian batsman had stated.

Many would argue that Rashid’s report in opposition to high groups is nowhere close to his calibre. He has picked simply three wickets in opposition to the highest nations (AUS, ENG, PAK, IND, NZ, SL, SA). His 86 scalps from 89 T20I wickets have come in opposition to Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Ireland, Omar, Scotland, UAE, West Indies and Zimbabwe. 

Amazing to be somebody who’s altering lives of children: Rashid

Though many would tag Rashid as a T20 league participant and never a T20 Internationals’ bowler, the truth that Afghanistan operates from a stadium in India says a lot concerning the Asian nation’s on-going progress in worldwide cricket. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has been allotted to Afghanistan as their residence floor within the nation. Before this, they hosted groups at Dehradun and Greater Noida.

While Afghanistan is not in a position to play a lot worldwide cricket up to now, they have not lagged in unearthing a number of stars in latest occasions. Bolstering their acclaimed spin unit, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Zahir Khan are two rising names, shepherding Afghanistan cricket together with their chief, Rashid. More than all of the honours, information and bowling figures, Rashid turning into a world celebrity is of extra worth to his nation.

“It feels superb to be somebody who’s altering the lives of children. To be somebody who helps change their mindset and plans about what they wish to change into sooner or later,” Rashid had not too long ago advised Ravichandran Ashwin within the latter’s YouTube present, DRS with Ash.

“They were not busy with sports and were not too much interested in sports. They were mostly interested in other activities which were not good for the country also. It’s a huge honour for me to be someone who is helping them change,” he had added.

Still 22, he definitely has an extended approach to go earlier than he curtails an already illustrious profession. With Rashid already being a transcendent determine in Afghanistan cricket, the long run definitely appears to be like vibrant for the war-torn nation.