Rashid Khan player with ‘incredible record’, having amassed 89 wickets in 48 games, at average of just 12.62
Afghanistan's iconic young sensation Rashid Khan was named Men’s T20I Player of the Decade by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday.
Emerging from the rocky grounds of eastern Afghanistan’s Shinwar district, sensational leg-spinner Khan has become the poster boy of this popular format of the sports within years of his debut on Oct. 26, 2015.
The sport’s global governing body, ICC has praised Rashid as a player with "incredible record" to date in the format, having amassed 89 wickets in 48 games, at an average of just 12.62.
Commenting on the award, Khan said in a brief video message that for someone from Afghanistan to get this award, it's a special moment. “It is rather easy to get to a ‘success’ point, but maintaining it is quite difficult, so in the next decade that is going to be a big task for me,” said the extraordinary leg-spinner.
Seasoned Afghan cricket commentator Ibrahim Momand told Anadolu Agency that Khan has brought smiles and hopes to a generation of war-weary Afghans at the time of great uncertainty. “He has literally alone, with his very charismatic performance won the hearts of many and inspired a generation of youngsters to start playing cricket in Afghanistan,” Momand said.
The 22-year-old features in almost all commercial T-20 cricket leagues in Australia, England, India, Bangladesh, West Indies and in his home country Afghanistan besides being the vice-captain of the national squad.