Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has revealed that he was approached by two countries—including India—with offers of citizenship and the opportunity to represent them, but he declined and chose to keep playing for Afghanistan. The details come from a new book, Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom, which is set to be released on Monday.
Citizenship offers from India and Australia turned down
In the book, Rashid says he was offered both citizenship and a chance to play for another nation by India and Australia. He also explains that his response was firm: if he did not represent his own country, he would not agree to play for any other team or nation.
- Rashid Khan says he received offers from both Australia and India, with the proposal including citizenship and the chance to represent them.
- He states that he told the offer-makers he would not play for any other country if he did not play for Afghanistan.
How the India approach came during the 2023 IPL
While Rashid did not provide further specifics about Australia’s offer, he described the Indian pitch during the 2023 IPL. The 27-year-old, who plays for Gujarat Titans, said a team official informed him that a senior figure connected to the Indian cricket system wanted to meet him.
Rashid recounted that after he met the official, the conversation turned to Afghanistan’s situation. He says the official urged him to relocate, promising Indian documentation and the opportunity to play cricket from within India.
- Rashid said a team official told him that a “high-ranking official from the Indian Cricket Board” wanted to meet him.
- He described greeting the official and beginning a conversation in which the official said Afghanistan’s conditions were very bad.
- Rashid quoted the official’s message as: move to India, receive Indian documents, live there, and continue playing cricket.
- Rashid said he was taken aback and did not immediately know how to respond, but replied with appreciation and made it clear he was playing for Afghanistan.
Earlier controversies and reactions after the 2018 IPL
The book also revisits Rashid’s stance on representing Afghanistan, which has surfaced in public discussion before. It points to the 2018 IPL, when Rashid played for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders and produced a standout all-round showing.
- During the 2018 IPL, Rashid played for Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Kolkata Knight Riders.
- He scored 34 runs off 10 balls and took three wickets in the match.
That performance triggered online calls in India for the government to grant him citizenship, with users tagging then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. In response, Swaraj wrote on social media that citizenship matters fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Social media users in India asked the government to grant Rashid citizenship, tagging Sushma Swaraj.
- Swaraj responded by saying citizenship matters are handled by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The issue also drew a reaction from former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The book says Ghani called Rashid a matter of national pride and stated he would not be given to another country. Rashid later thanked Ghani and reiterated that he would continue representing Afghanistan.
- Ashraf Ghani said Rashid is a matter of national pride and would not be transferred to another country.
- Rashid later thanked Ghani and confirmed he would continue playing for Afghanistan.
From Nangarhar to international acclaim
Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom traces the spinner’s progress from Nangarhar to the international stage. It covers how he missed out on an Afghanistan Under-19 trial before becoming one of the country’s leading players, and later being named the ICC’s Player of the Decade in 2020.
- The book maps Rashid’s journey from Nangarhar to international cricket.
- It details how he missed an Afghanistan Under-19 trial before rising to become one of Afghanistan’s key players.
- It also notes that he was named the ICC’s Player of the Decade in 2020.
Rashid’s latest comments add another chapter to a long-running debate around player eligibility and national representation in T20 cricket—while reinforcing his decision to remain tied to Afghanistan.
