Rashid Khan Praises Rising Afghan Presence in IPL: “A Big Step for Afghanistan Cricket”

Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan has expressed his delight over the increasing number of Afghan players participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking during the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, Rashid highlighted the development as a significant milestone for cricket in Afghanistan.

Rashid, who became the first Afghanistan cricketer to play in the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017, emphasized how far Afghan cricket has come. “It is great news for Afghanistan cricket to have more players in the IPL, the biggest league in the world. It’s encouraging to see how they are carving out spaces for themselves. This reflects the growth of Afghanistan cricket, and I am so happy to see them compete in the tournament,” he said.

Since Rashid’s IPL debut, several Afghan cricketers have followed suit. These include all-rounders Mohammed Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai, spinner Noor Ahmed, and 18-year-old spinner Allah Ghazanfar, who was recently acquired by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Rashid sees this growing representation as just the beginning for players from his homeland.

Currently representing the Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, Rashid also spoke about the challenges spinners face in the shortest format. “T10 is undoubtedly a difficult format for spinners. Batters are constantly looking to attack, and the new ball makes it hard to generate turn,” he explained.

However, he emphasized the importance of skill and precision in succeeding in the format. “It’s crucial to bowl in the right areas and give your best effort. Sometimes, it takes just one good delivery to dismiss a batter,” Rashid added.

Rashid has been a key performer for the Bangla Tigers, who have won two of their four matches in the tournament so far. The team is set to face Ajman Bolts on November 27 in their next fixture.