Afghanistan‘s star spinner Rashid Khan has expressed his joy over the increasing number of Afghan players in the Indian Premier League (IPL), calling it a positive sign of the sport’s development in the country.
In 2017, Rashid became the first Afghan player to join the IPL, signing with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Since then, several Afghan cricketers, including spinner Noor Ahmed, all-rounder Mohammed Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and 18-year-old spinner Allah Ghazanfar—picked by Mumbai Indians in this year’s IPL auction—have participated in the league.
Currently playing for the Bangla Tigers in the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, Rashid expressed excitement about this growing representation.
“It is great news for Afghanistan cricket to have more players in the IPL, the biggest league in the world. It’s just the beginning for players back home. Seeing them carve out spaces for themselves is encouraging and reflects the growth of Afghanistan cricket,” he said.
Rashid, known for his consistent performances in the T10 format, highlighted the challenges spinners face in this format, emphasizing accuracy as key.
“T10 is undoubtedly a difficult format for spinners. Batters are constantly looking to attack, and the new ball makes it hard to generate a turn. However, bowling in the right areas and giving your best effort is crucial. Sometimes, one good delivery is enough to dismiss a batter,” he added.
The Bangla Tigers, having won two of their four matches, are set to face Ajman Bolts on November 27 in their next fixture.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
