‘Important to know each other's traditions and cultures’ – Rashid Khan lauds Kane Williamson, David Warner for fasting with him

Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan has said that getting to know each other’s cultures and tradition helps in developing respect for each other. The 23-year-old went down the memory lane to the first half of the 2021 Indian Premier League when he observed fast during Ramadan along with Kane Williamson and David Warner, his teammates in the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Nangarhar-born had shared a video where he was fasting with his SRH mates and it went viral. The youngster said how he was highly impressed with the two foreign cricketers showing their interest in fasting. Rashid also stated that Warner and Williamson came to him and asked for sehri.

I have so much respect for both of them, says Rashid Khan

“Those days when Ramadan was on, we were fasting and playing. David Warner and Kane Williamson said, it’s pretty hard to fast and play, it’s a tough job. They wanted to fast, but on an off day. They came for sehri at around 3am,” Rashid told ESPNcricinfo.

“It was so good to see them fasting with us, to understand our feelings. When there was one hour left [before breaking the fast in the evening], I remember sitting by the poolside with Williamson, who was like: “We haven’t played cricket, we haven’t done anything, we have just been at the hotel, but it is so difficult to eat nothing,” he stated.

“I loved the way they came up and said we want to fast with you, we want to know the feelings. It made me so happy. I have so much respect for both of them. It’s important to know each other’s traditions and cultures. It automatically inculcates further respect,” Rashid added.

Rashid was also of the opinion that T20 leagues around the globe brings different cultures together, helping players understand each other better.

Rashid was the standout bowler for the Sunrisers in the 2021 IPL. The leg-spinner picked up 18 wickets from 14 games and was the leading wicket-taker for the Orange Army.

Jason Holder, who played most games in the second leg of IPL 2021, was the second-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets. The Sunrisers failed to qualify for the playoffs after ending as the cellar dwellers.