Afghan cricketer likely to play in Australia’s Big Bash League

Afghan bowler Rashid Khan is likely to play in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League as one of its team has shown interest in him.

If taken, Rashid Khan would be first-ever Afghan cricketer to play in the league, which is sixth most attended sports league in the world.

Skipper of Sydney Sixers, one of eight teams in the league and inaugural champions, has revealed his interest in taking in Rashid Khan. Both are currently playing for Indian Premier League’s Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The 18-year-old Afghan spinner has taken 14 wickets in 12 matches for SRH and his economy rate of 6.5 is the lowest of any of the top 10 IPL wicket-takers.

“I must say as captain of Sixers, I have been contemplating our little leggie (Rashid) we have over here,” Moises Henriques told foxsports.com.au.

“I still can’t pick him in the nets. He bowls nearly 100kph and gets the ball to spin a little bit both ways.

“He is hard work especially over here in these conditions but it is something definitely worth contemplating for Sixers.

“I think teams will be silly to pass off the opportunity to not signing guys just because they are from developing cricketing nations.

“Players such as Rashid Khan from Afghanistan also Mustafizur Rahman from Bangladesh, I’ve been lucky enough to play with both of them here at the Sunrsiers and they have been able to mix it with the very best in the world and I’m sure they are good enough to be in the BBL competition.”

Rashid Khan, who is one of the most expensive players at IPL having been bought at $600,000, is also dreaming about BBL debut.

“My dream is to play Big Bash. I would love to be the first Afghan to play in the Big Bash,” he said.

“I have performed well so far in the IPL and hopefully that will help me be part of Bigh Bash.”

He said that players had spoken to him about the league and “a couple of franchises have contacted me already.”

 BBL matches are played in the months of December and January.