Rashid Khan rejects India’s citizenship offer, chooses loyalty to Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has revealed that he turned down offers of citizenship from both India and Australia, despite the opportunities they could have brought to his already illustrious career.

The revelation, shared in his book Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom, highlights a defining moment during the Indian Premier League 2023 season, where an Indian offer stood out.

While playing in the IPL, Rashid recounted being approached by a senior figure connected to Indian cricket. The conversation left a lasting impression.

“The situation in your country (Afghanistan) is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here.”

Rashid admitted the proposal caught him off guard.

“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, ‘Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan.’”

For fans, this moment stands out, not just for the scale of the offer, but for what Rashid chose to prioritise: national identity over personal gain.

Not just India: Offers came from Australia too

Rashid clarified that India wasn’t the only country to approach him. Similar offers came from Australia, underlining his global demand as one of cricket’s top T20 players.

“I received such offers (citizenship and playing) from both Australia and India. But I told them, ‘If I don’t play for my country, I won’t play for any other country either.’”

Rashid’s connection with Indian fans runs deep. Back in 2018, while representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, he delivered a match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders that sparked widespread admiration.

Social media was flooded with calls for him to be granted Indian citizenship, an early sign of how beloved he had become in the country.

Beyond cricket, Rashid recently shared a heartfelt personal update, welcoming his newborn son, Aslan (also referred to as Azlan in his announcement).

Posting an emotional message, he wrote, “Alhamdulillah. Welcome to the world, my little prince,”

The announcement, accompanied by a tender photograph, drew warm wishes from across the cricketing world, further reflecting the respect and admiration he commands globally.

With IANS inputs