Inzamam-ul-Haq was the coach when Rashid made it into the Afghanistan side.
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan is among the best finds in the last decade and his performances have proved it. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had spotted the talent of Rashid. He was temporarily the coach of the Afghanistan cricket team.
The 17-year-old Rashid made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2015. Inzamam had asked "Where were you?" to the leggie during a net session. The youngster responded he was in Afghanistan, without realizing what he was really asking.
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Soon, after the rise of Rashid, he was tagged as a T20 specialist and some even called him not-so-good for the 50-over format. Inzamam didn't like it at all and the reaction, as Rashid revealed on BBC podcast 'Doosra', was full of anger.
"Until I am the coach you will be in my team, I am here for 2-3 years and you will be the main player and be the 1st one to be picked in the team," Inzamam had assured Rashid. It's like a dream come true for him now being the no.1 T20I bowler.
The 21-year-old called West Indies batsmen destructive. Though he didn't pick out one batter out of the bunch of Caribbean power hitters.
"West Indies players, they are so dangerous. Even their miss-hit goes for a boundary. Hardik Pandya also, the way he hits unbelievable. They are dangerous in T20Is," Rashid said.
Rashid, who has played 71 ODIs for Afghanistan, is missing cricketing action because of lockdown.
"It is very tough for me, you don’t know what to do, nothing is moving on. I am missing cricket, last 5 years I have played in different countries with different people, have planned according to the leagues."
"My Mom told 'I am so bored, there is no cricket on TV'. She began watching cricket ever since I started playing. She said she would have been watching me play in IPL right now if everything was good," he added.
Rashid is currently at his home in Kabul. He spends time playing indoor cricket with the family.
"We play 5-over matches. We get divided in 2 teams of 2 players each and so there is a pressure of scoring runs too. A match-like situation is created. Few of my brothers are stuck in lockdown at different homes, current I have my 3 nephews and 3 brothers to play with. When things get fine, we all can unite and play like when we used to in our childhood days," he said.