Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan: 2-1-3-5, gets Caribbean Twenty20 deal after IPL

Rashid Khan and Afghanistan cricket are having the time of their lives in 2017. The period from February to March has been a golden one for both. During the 2017 Indian Premier League auction, Rashid Khan became the highest paid cricketer from an Associate nation in the history of the tournament when he was snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 4 crore.

The 18-year-old legspinner has continued to make giant strides in the March during the current Twenty20 series against Ireland in Greater Noida. During the second game, Afghanistan had notched up 184/8 and Ireland had to chase a target of 111 in 11 overs. At 68/3, they looked comfortable but Rashid changed the whole course of the match when he took five wickets in nine balls to end up with outstanding figures of 2-1-3-5.

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His haul helped Afghanistan secured their 10th consecutive victory in Twenty20 Internationals, the best by any team. Rashid’s figures are the best by an Afghanistan bowler in this format and overall, it is the fifth-best by any bowler.

Rashid’s performances have gotten the whole world talking. Following his acquisition in the Indian Premier League and his haul against Ireland, the Afghanistan leg-spinner has charted a new course when he was snapped up by the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League.

The performance of the 18-year-old legspinner, combined with Mohammad Nabi’s inclusion in both the IPL and the CPL, is a sign off great things for Afghanistan cricket. With a record streak in T20Is, the team will only be aiming higher as 2017 progresses.