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Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series: Sarfaraz named head coach; four uncapped players included in squad

While he does not elaborate on the Australian offer, the 27-year-old cricketer recounts the Indian offer in detail from the 2023 Indian Premier League season.

Rashid, currently playing in the IPL for Gujarat Titans, recalls being informed by his team official that a “high-ranking official from the Indian Cricket Board” wanted to meet him.

“I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: ‘The situation in your country (Afghanistan) is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here’, “ Rashid said, narrating the instance in the book.

“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, ‘Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan’,” he added.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Afghanistans #Rashid #Khan #turned #citizenship #offer #India"> Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan says he turned down citizenship offer from India Afghanistan’s talismanic leg-spinner Rashid Khan was informally sounded out by not one but two countries, including India, with offers of citizenship and an opportunity to represent them, but the star cricketer declined, choosing instead to stay loyal to his homeland, a new book has revealed.In “Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom”, scheduled to release on Monday, the all-rounder tells author Mohammad Haand Jafar that both India and Australia extended such offers, which he declined.“I received such offers (citizenship and playing) from both Australia and India. But I told them, ‘If I don’t play for my country, I won’t play for any other country either,” Rashid is quoted as saying in the book.ALSO READ | Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series: Sarfaraz named head coach; four uncapped players included in squadWhile he does not elaborate on the Australian offer, the 27-year-old cricketer recounts the Indian offer in detail from the 2023 Indian Premier League season.Rashid, currently playing in the IPL for Gujarat Titans, recalls being informed by his team official that a “high-ranking official from the Indian Cricket Board” wanted to meet him.“I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: ‘The situation in your country (Afghanistan) is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here’, “ Rashid said, narrating the instance in the book.“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, ‘Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan’,” he added.Published on Apr 19, 2026 #Afghanistans #Rashid #Khan #turned #citizenship #offer #India
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Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series: Sarfaraz named head coach; four uncapped players included in squad

While he does not elaborate on the Australian offer, the 27-year-old cricketer recounts the Indian offer in detail from the 2023 Indian Premier League season.

Rashid, currently playing in the IPL for Gujarat Titans, recalls being informed by his team official that a “high-ranking official from the Indian Cricket Board” wanted to meet him.

“I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: ‘The situation in your country (Afghanistan) is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here’, “ Rashid said, narrating the instance in the book.

“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, ‘Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan’,” he added.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Afghanistans #Rashid #Khan #turned #citizenship #offer #India">Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan says he turned down citizenship offer from India

Afghanistan’s talismanic leg-spinner Rashid Khan was informally sounded out by not one but two countries, including India, with offers of citizenship and an opportunity to represent them, but the star cricketer declined, choosing instead to stay loyal to his homeland, a new book has revealed.

In “Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom”, scheduled to release on Monday, the all-rounder tells author Mohammad Haand Jafar that both India and Australia extended such offers, which he declined.

“I received such offers (citizenship and playing) from both Australia and India. But I told them, ‘If I don’t play for my country, I won’t play for any other country either,” Rashid is quoted as saying in the book.

ALSO READ | Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series: Sarfaraz named head coach; four uncapped players included in squad

While he does not elaborate on the Australian offer, the 27-year-old cricketer recounts the Indian offer in detail from the 2023 Indian Premier League season.

Rashid, currently playing in the IPL for Gujarat Titans, recalls being informed by his team official that a “high-ranking official from the Indian Cricket Board” wanted to meet him.

“I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: ‘The situation in your country (Afghanistan) is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here’, “ Rashid said, narrating the instance in the book.

“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, ‘Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan’,” he added.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Afghanistans #Rashid #Khan #turned #citizenship #offer #India

Afghanistan’s talismanic leg-spinner Rashid Khan was informally sounded out by not one but two countries,…

GT captain Shubman Gill fined Rs. 12 lakh for slow over-rate against DC

Rashid had pushed his body to the limit to play the 2023 ODI World Cup, ignoring the doctor’s advice. He struggled to even walk after the ICC event in India and eventually went under the knife. It is precisely for this reason that he was cautious on return.

“After surgery, when I came back, I was very, very careful with my back. That, I think, affected my bowling action and release and everything. So, I was trying to be careful,” he said.

“I missed a little bit of my rhythm. You know, I was trying to be slow for two-three months, four months.

“And what was not allowing me (to push harder) was a bit of pain in the back. I was scared. So, yeah, just to work on my core. And I tried my best to make it as strong as possible. And then, you know, just to go on with the full energy,” he recollected.

Though the Afghan star is fit to bowl again, he said it would be difficult to play Test cricket going forward.

“Red ball is something which looks a bit difficult for me to keep in. Yes, one Test in a year, I will take that, but I don’t think I can do more than that,” he said.

Published on Apr 09, 2026

#Rashid #Khan #believes #hes #prime #IPL #remains #unsure #Test #cricket"> Rashid Khan believes he’s back to his prime in IPL 2026 but remains unsure about Test cricket Rashid Khan believes he has finally regained the rhythm that eluded him following his back surgery in 2023.Rashid went through a horror last season when he took just nine wickets in 15 games for Gujarat Titans. This was after an equally underwhelming 2024 run, during which he struggled to find his rhythm following the surgery.But with a standout performance on Wednesday night against Delhi Capitals, he made a loud statement.He challenged edges on both sides and took three timely wickets of Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi and opposition skipper Axar Patel to bring his team back into the contest that it eventually won by a solitary run.“… If you have a bad season, it doesn’t mean you are gone…It’s just about your line and length,” Rashid said after the win.“…it’s a fresh year, and I gave myself a couple of months after the last IPL, focused on my fitness. I felt like I was struggling a little bit with my back after surgery. And I think when I had three good months, I had a good The Hundred in the UK.“But more importantly, I try my best to just work on my fitness and work on my core. That does allow my body to bowl with the full rhythm,” he added.ALSO READ | GT captain Shubman Gill fined Rs. 12 lakh for slow over-rate against DCRashid had pushed his body to the limit to play the 2023 ODI World Cup, ignoring the doctor’s advice. He struggled to even walk after the ICC event in India and eventually went under the knife. It is precisely for this reason that he was cautious on return.“After surgery, when I came back, I was very, very careful with my back. That, I think, affected my bowling action and release and everything. So, I was trying to be careful,” he said.“I missed a little bit of my rhythm. You know, I was trying to be slow for two-three months, four months.“And what was not allowing me (to push harder) was a bit of pain in the back. I was scared. So, yeah, just to work on my core. And I tried my best to make it as strong as possible. And then, you know, just to go on with the full energy,” he recollected.Though the Afghan star is fit to bowl again, he said it would be difficult to play Test cricket going forward.“Red ball is something which looks a bit difficult for me to keep in. Yes, one Test in a year, I will take that, but I don’t think I can do more than that,” he said.Published on Apr 09, 2026 #Rashid #Khan #believes #hes #prime #IPL #remains #unsure #Test #cricket
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GT captain Shubman Gill fined Rs. 12 lakh for slow over-rate against DC

Rashid had pushed his body to the limit to play the 2023 ODI World Cup, ignoring the doctor’s advice. He struggled to even walk after the ICC event in India and eventually went under the knife. It is precisely for this reason that he was cautious on return.

“After surgery, when I came back, I was very, very careful with my back. That, I think, affected my bowling action and release and everything. So, I was trying to be careful,” he said.

“I missed a little bit of my rhythm. You know, I was trying to be slow for two-three months, four months.

“And what was not allowing me (to push harder) was a bit of pain in the back. I was scared. So, yeah, just to work on my core. And I tried my best to make it as strong as possible. And then, you know, just to go on with the full energy,” he recollected.

Though the Afghan star is fit to bowl again, he said it would be difficult to play Test cricket going forward.

“Red ball is something which looks a bit difficult for me to keep in. Yes, one Test in a year, I will take that, but I don’t think I can do more than that,” he said.

Published on Apr 09, 2026

#Rashid #Khan #believes #hes #prime #IPL #remains #unsure #Test #cricket">Rashid Khan believes he’s back to his prime in IPL 2026 but remains unsure about Test cricket

Rashid Khan believes he has finally regained the rhythm that eluded him following his back surgery in 2023.

Rashid went through a horror last season when he took just nine wickets in 15 games for Gujarat Titans. This was after an equally underwhelming 2024 run, during which he struggled to find his rhythm following the surgery.

But with a standout performance on Wednesday night against Delhi Capitals, he made a loud statement.

He challenged edges on both sides and took three timely wickets of Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi and opposition skipper Axar Patel to bring his team back into the contest that it eventually won by a solitary run.

“… If you have a bad season, it doesn’t mean you are gone…It’s just about your line and length,” Rashid said after the win.

“…it’s a fresh year, and I gave myself a couple of months after the last IPL, focused on my fitness. I felt like I was struggling a little bit with my back after surgery. And I think when I had three good months, I had a good The Hundred in the UK.

“But more importantly, I try my best to just work on my fitness and work on my core. That does allow my body to bowl with the full rhythm,” he added.

ALSO READ | GT captain Shubman Gill fined Rs. 12 lakh for slow over-rate against DC

Rashid had pushed his body to the limit to play the 2023 ODI World Cup, ignoring the doctor’s advice. He struggled to even walk after the ICC event in India and eventually went under the knife. It is precisely for this reason that he was cautious on return.

“After surgery, when I came back, I was very, very careful with my back. That, I think, affected my bowling action and release and everything. So, I was trying to be careful,” he said.

“I missed a little bit of my rhythm. You know, I was trying to be slow for two-three months, four months.

“And what was not allowing me (to push harder) was a bit of pain in the back. I was scared. So, yeah, just to work on my core. And I tried my best to make it as strong as possible. And then, you know, just to go on with the full energy,” he recollected.

Though the Afghan star is fit to bowl again, he said it would be difficult to play Test cricket going forward.

“Red ball is something which looks a bit difficult for me to keep in. Yes, one Test in a year, I will take that, but I don’t think I can do more than that,” he said.

Published on Apr 09, 2026

#Rashid #Khan #believes #hes #prime #IPL #remains #unsure #Test #cricket

Rashid Khan believes he has finally regained the rhythm that eluded him following his back…