IND vs AFG 2018: Rashid Khan confident of competing with India

Afghanistan will make their Test debut against India on June 14.

Rashid Khan has played four first-class matches so far | Getty

Afghanistan are all set to start their journey as a Test playing nation, when they will take on the No.1 ranked India in the one-off Test match in Bengaluru on June 14.

Ahead of their historic maiden Test, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has said that he is lucky to get an opportunity to play red-ball cricket so early.

“Test cricket is the biggest platform to improve and learn from for young cricketers like me. There is room for you to experiment with your skill-set, something that you can’t afford in T20. As a bowler, you can try out all your variations. I am fortunate to get an opportunity to play Test cricket so early. It will make me a better cricketer,” Rashid said in an exclusive interview with The Hindu.

In June 2017, Afghanistan along with Ireland, who already played their maiden Test against Pakistan last month, were granted Test status by the International Cricket Council. Rashid feels it is a proud achievement for all the Afghanis as they have earned it by playing some outstanding cricket in recent past.

“Even before I came into the squad, the seniors would aspire to get the Test status. But the biggest moment was the manner in which we fared in the 2016 World T20 in India. We gave a tough time to virtually every opponent; we were unlucky to have lost many matches but the way we played, we had it in us to sustain at the highest level. That performance on the back of a poor 2015 World Cup outing in Australia turned out to be a game-changer for me,” he remarked.

Recalling his first memory of Test cricket, Rashid said: “Can’t really remember the first match I watched on TV but I have loved watching Test matches since childhood. The Ashes, I would never miss watching it. I love Test cricket because it’s the ultimate test of a cricketer and I am thrilled to be finally playing a Test. We hope to translate our limited-over success into the longer version.”

Rashid bagged 8 wickets at a phenomenal average and economy rate of 6.12 and 4.45 respectively in Afghanistan’s 3-0 T20I series victory over Bangladesh at Dehradun.

During the recently concluded Indian Premier League, Rashid had scalped 21 wickets in 17 matches for the runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad. He had played an instrumental role in SRH’s dominance throughout the league phase. The Hyderabad based franchise had the league stage as the No.1 team, having won 9 out of their 14 matches, whereas Rashid finished the IPL 2018 campaign as the second highest wicket-taker.

When asked if he would be able to replicate his limited-overs success in the longest format provided that he has the experience of only four first-class matches, Rashid said: “It’s true that we haven’t played as much longer format cricket over the last two years as white-ball cricket, so it would obviously be challenging to adapt.”

“The key for me is fitness and over the last few months, I have brought a lot of changes into my fitness regimen. I’m confident that my intensity level while bowling would be the same on the fifth day as it would be on the first. As long as you stand your ground firm, nobody can beat you in Test matches. Our main challenge is to switch off from the limited-over mode and turn on the Test match mode. If we can make it happen, I am confident we can compete with India,” he concluded.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 10 Jun, 2018

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