After making his debut in 2015, leg-spinner Rashid Khan quickly became anintegral part of Afghanistan’s national team. Within just 6 years, Rashidhas moved from outclassing his brothers on a cement track to being namedT20I Player of the Decade.
While speaking with ESPNCricinfo recently, Rashid Khan recalled howInzamam-ul-Haq, the then Afghanistan national team’s head coach, handed himhis ODI debut based on a single delivery he bowled to him in the nets.——————————
Rashid said that he was 17 years old when he was inducted into theAfghanistan national setup for the tour to Zimbabwe. Although theAfghanistan national team was scheduled to play 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is againstZimbabwe, Rashid was initially included in the T20I squad. Head coachInzamam did not include Rashid Khan in the ODI squad because he had notseen him bowl.
Rashid added that Afghanistan lost the first ODI. During the practicesession before the second ODI, Inzamam himself padded up and said he wantedto face me.
“I bowled a total of three deliveries to Inzamam. He cut the first twoballs because he is so strong with the shot,” noted Rashid, adding that “Ithought of bowling a wrong‘un from the same spot, and see what happens. Hedidn’t get out, but the ball beat him.”——————————
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“After this, Inzamam came outside the net and told me to be ready for thesecond ODI,” said Rashid.
On his debut, Rashid emerged as the most economical bowler with figures of1/30 in 10 overs as Afghanistan won by 58 runs.
Rashid said in the interview that it was Inzamam’s backing right from thefirst game that gave him the confidence to do well even at such a youngage. It was then he realized that his team depended on it and that he wasthe number 1 spinner in the team.
