One of the finds of the decade In the world of cricket, Rashid Khan. The leggie hailing from Afghanistan took the world cricket by storm. He debuted against Zimbabwe in 2015 and since then there hasn’t been any stone unturned from him.
Afghanistan cricket team is making a definition of their own in the world of cricket and thanks to Rashid Khan. He went on to become the youngest captain ever to lead an international side at the age of 19 years and 165 days.
There is an interesting story about Rashid Khan on how he was spotted.
Inzamam Ul Haq, then coach of Afghanistan cricket team shares an interesting story about Rashid khan.
Inzamam ul Haq was appointed as coach of the Afghanistan cricket team in 2015. He was proposed a contract of coaching Afghanistan cricket team for just one series against Zimbabwe.
When Inzamam ul Haq traveled to Dubai, he had a team sheet which had players names who were selected to play against Zimbabwe and the manager of the team and also scout who was going around domestic circuit to look out for new players and emerging talents, he proposed Inzamam Ul Haq saying “ there is a player called Rashid Khan and you should watch out for him”. Rashid khan’s name was not in the sheet and Inzamam trusted his scout and he asked the selectors to get him into the training session with the squad.
The chief selectors of the Afghanistan cricket team straightaway denied him by saying he is not fit enough and good enough to play for the country. Inzamam ul Haq said, “ if you don’t give me players that I want then I would not want to be coaching a team that is not of my choice”.
Rashid khan was bought into the training session with other players and when Inzamam Ul Haq watched him in the nets, he was surprised to see such a young guy bowling fast Googlies and spinning the ball in both the direction.
Inzamam Ul Haq went up to him and said “ I can see that players are not picking your Googlies so I will bat against you and if you get me out then I will take you into the team” and Rashid khan accepted the challenge. However, Inzamam never got out to him but he believed that this guy is something special because of the way he bowls Googlies and it is so fast out of his hand and it’s very hard to pick him of his hand.
Inzamam also believes that he is an exceptional batsman and if he would have continued to be a coach of Afghanistan then he would make him bat in the top order.
Rashid Khan made his debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe and the coach was Inzamam ul Haq and rest his history. He went onto play in Indian premier league, Big bash in Australia and playing around the globe.
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