Even suicide blast can’t stop rising Afghan star
Chandimal lauds ‘wily old fox’ Herath
KABUL, Oct 3, (Agencies): Such is Rashid Khan’s popularity that even a suicide blast at Kabul’s main cricket stadium couldn’t keep his fans away — and the teenager is now eyeing the sport’s big prizes as his international profile grows.
The 19-year-old leg spinner started playing with a tennis ball in the remote and poor province of Nangarhar, but he has now starred in the Indian Premier League and will soon make his debut in Australia’s Big Bash League.
At last month’s Shpageeza Cricket League, Afghanistan’s Twenty20 domestic tournament, he became the youngest player to take 100 T20 wickets as he helped the Band-eAmir Dragons to victory.
Khan’s success has helped elevate cricket’s profile in Afghanistan, where most players were introduced to the sport in refugee camps in Pakistan after fleeing the 19791989 Soviet occupation.
Even after a suicide bomber blew himself up within metres of the Kabul stadium, killing three people, Khan’s fans continued to flock to watch him play.
They waved the Afghan national flag and chanted songs for Khan, some showing their devotion by painting his name on their bodies.
“I play cricket to bring victories for my country and to make Afghanistan proud on the world stage,” Khan told AFP in an interview in Kabul.
This year, Khan became the first Afghan to play in the lucrative IPL, and he will also be the first from his country in the Big Bash League when he turns out for the Adelaide Strikers in December.
Adelaide Strikers coach Jason Gillespie hailed Rashid’s signing as a “major coup” when it was announced last month.
“Rashid has set the world alight in T20 cricket with his energy, enthusiasm, and great control for a young guy,” Gillespie said.
“He has some great variations, can bowl stump-to-stump and can be very hard to pick.”
Khan was born during the Taliban’s 1996-2001 rule, when sport was considered a distraction from religious studies.
Sri Lankan’s Dilruwan Perera celebrates after the victory on the fifth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu
Dhabi on Oct 2. (AFP)
He learned cricket by studying the techniques of Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi on television, and then practising outside in the dirt with his brothers using a tennis ball.
Khan, one of 12 children, began his professional career in Afghanistan’s domestic league where his deceptive bowling technique soon caught the attention of national selectors. At 17, he made his international debut against Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has hailed the contribution of veteran spinner Rangana Herath who led the side to a dramatic 21run victory over Pakistan in the first test in Abu Dhabi.
With Pakistan chasing 136 for victory, the 39-year-old left arm spinner showed his class with a match-winning six for 43 in the second innings for a match haul of 11 wickets.
Herath also became the oldest bowler to reach 400 wickets in the longest format of the game on Monday.
“I just want him throughout my career,” Chandimal told reporters after the win at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
“I have no idea how long he is going to play, but I am sure he will do what he can for the team. He is a wily old fox and I have to say Rangana is a team man and an asset to the team.
“He is supportive to me and the players, with what he has learnt from cricket. Every young player goes to talk to him about his bowling and experiences.”
Following a 3-0 home drubbing at the hands of India in August, Chandimal was particularly pleased with the way his players responded to the challenge against Pakistan.
It was their first away test win against a higher-ranked opposition since June 2014.
“As a team, we were below par in our performances (against India), but we have waited for this win and finally we got it. Credit goes to all the players,” the skipper added.
“They played some really good cricket and I’m sure this can continue throughout the series. We did more work on our fitness and fielding, and discipline.
“Everyone put their heart and soul into the practices, and the management put lots of hard work in.”
The second and final test of the series will be a day-night affair in Dubai starting on Friday.
Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is set to make a return to competitive cricket for New South Wales against South Australia in a one-day match on Friday.
The left-arm fast bowler has been out since June after suffering a recurrence of a foot injury during the Champions Trophy with Australia.
Australia’s assistant coach David Saker confirmed Starc and Josh Hazlewood would feature in firstclass cricket before the home Ashes series against England, starting in November.
They will be joined by fellow speedster Pat Cummins, who has been rested for the upcoming T20 internationals in India.
“Whether the fast bowlers play all three of those we’ll wait and see,” Saker told reporters. “Three Shield games to shape the Australian team - it’s going to be good for everybody.