Rashid Khan is a bigger cricketer than Wasim Akram: Rashid Latif

Rashid Khan was the first player from Afghanistan to feature in the Indian Premier League. The spinner went onto become the global T20 icon while also dazzling at the international stage for Afghanistan. He now stands as the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is with 161 wickets, just four scalps away from overtaking the No. 1 Tim Southee (164). 

Even Afghanistan as a side has evolved over the years, seeing themselves perform at the ICC events to shred the tag of being an Associated Nation. The Afghanistan team managed to beat Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England in the ODI World Cup 2023. While highlighting the growth of Rashid and Afghanistan, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif claimed that Rashid is bigger than swing bowling luminary Wasim Akram. 

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: How the teams are shaping up

“He is greater than Wasim Akram. I am sorry to say but Rashid’s stature is bigger. I have only one piece of advice for Rashid Khan. ‘Improve your Test team and play more Test matches against Pakistan,” he was qouted as saying by India Today. 

Allah Ghazanfar ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025

Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be in action in the Champions Trophy 2025 hosted by Pakistan and Dubai. Ahead of the event, they have dealt a blow as mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar. 

Also Read: Mujeeb Ur Rahman replaces injured Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians

“AM Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra (located in the lower back), specifically in the left pars interarticularis. He sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s recent tour of Zimbabwe and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months, remaining under treatment during this period,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) posted on ‘X’.

Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran

Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami