Afghanistan's Rashid Khan has gained plenty of admirers and has caught the attention of the cricketing world with his unique skills as a quickish leg-spinner. Rashid is a popular attraction in most T20 leagues around the world, and has broken several records already in international cricket for Afghanistan.
Rashid's talents are not limited to just with the ball, he also can contribute with the bat towards the finishing stages of an innings and has often scored crucial cameos down the order for his respective teams. He has often stated that he wishes to be known as a all-rounder.
The star bowler turned 20 on Thursday and celebrated his birthday in style by smashing an unbeaten 57 in just 32 balls in the Asia Cup 2018 tie against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi, helping Afghanistan finish their innings with a competitive score of 255/7.
Afghanistan was tottering at 160/7 in the 41st over and were in danger of being bowled out under 200, but Rashid Khan had other ideas as he displayed his talent with the bat and smashed the Bangladesh bowlers to all parts of the ground, adding 95 for the 8th wicket with Gulbadin Naib.
Cricket fraternity was impressed by what they saw from Rashid and applauded his knock on Twitter:
Rashid Khan will be Afghanistan President one day, won't he? #AsiaCup
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 20, 2018
Khan Saab....Tussi Great ho. Tohfa Kabool Karo... ???????????? #Rashid #Unbelievable #BanvAfg #AsiaCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 20, 2018
Happy Birthday @rashidkhan_19
— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) September 20, 2018
What a half century that, amazing batting on a memorable day.
God bless, keep working hard. You have more success to achieve. #Aisacup pic.twitter.com/D4CLMXAKaR
Birthday boy on fire !! what a way to celebrate with such a special inn like that ... few wickets with the ball will be the icing on the cake.. happy birthday @rashidkhan_19
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 20, 2018
Oh boyyyyy! @rashidkhan_19 has bull dozed his way to a half century!! 57 of 32 and wait, Abhi to ‘birthday’ party shuru hui hai ????.. How many wickets for the birthday boy? I’m going with three #BANvAFG
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) September 20, 2018
Bowling, fielding certainly and even when batting, young Rashid Khan is a marvellous cricketer. Among the most exciting in the world
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 20, 2018
It’s his birthday, but @rashidkhan_19 is giving us fans a gift with this innings ???????????? innovative & exciting batting. Brilliant 50! #AFGvBAN
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) September 20, 2018