In his hour of glory, Rashid Khan remembered the people killed in a blast during a cricket match in his home town recently, even as Indian fans and his country’s President indulged in some good-natured banter over his citizenship.
Rashid dedicated his match-winning performance during IPL’s second Qualifier to those who lost their lives in his native place, Jalalabad.
“I want to dedicate this award to those who lost their lives in a blast during a cricket game in my hometown,” Rashid said at the post-match presentation ceremony on Friday.
Meanwhile, Rashid received high praise from Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, who called him a hero.
So impressed were the Indian cricket lovers that they wondered on the social media if Rashid could be given citizenship and allowed to play for India.
In his response, the Afghan President tweeted: “Afghans take absolute pride in our hero, Rashid Khan. I am also thankful to our Indian friends for giving our players a platform to show their skills.”
Ghani went on to describe Rashid as “an asset to the cricketing world” and asserted that he belongs to Afghanistan.
“Rashid reminds us whats best about Afg (sic). He remains an asset to the cricketing world. No, we are not giving him away,” the President said.
