Not surprised when one among us matches international stars: Afghanistan all-rounder Rahmat Shah

Young Afghanistan all-rounder Rahmat Shah is making slow yet steady progress in his cricket career for the national side. The all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls leg breaks has already played 27 ODIs in the national colors. Currently, he is plying his trade for the Mohammedan Sporting Club in the ongoing edition of the Dhaka Premier League.

DPL is the List A tournament of Bangladesh that allows overseas players to play along with the domestic crickters in the 50 overs competition. In a recent conversation with Cricwizz, Rahmat Shah spoke at length about how the team wishes to grow in stature in the coming years. Also, he reflected back at how the signing of Afghanistani players in the IPL has given new hopes to the youngsters in the country.

He noted that it is obvious to see the impact of IPL in the Afghanistan cricket. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi received IPL contracts with the Sunrisers Hyderabad this year. Rashid has been doing exceedingly well in the tournament thus far.

“Naturally, the inclusion of Afghan players in the IPL will have an impact on our cricket. You cannot deny the popularity of the IPL and to make your presence felt in such a tournament can only come as a boost for our youngster in the coming days,” quoted Rahmat Shah.

He further added that the people in Afghanistan are very much familiar with the IPL. And now with the inclusion of homegrown heroes in the tournament, the hype has only got better. He is no longer surprised to see his countrymen rub shoulders with the international greats.

“They are quite familiar with IPL and when they see their own boy is able to make things happen, it is likely to push them trying out the sport and make a name for themselves. So I am not surprised when one among us matches any other international stars in this format,” Shah added.

Talking about his stint at the DPL this year, Rahmat cited that the team is somehow not performing very well in the ODIs. Their T20 performances have been spectacular. Rahmat Shah believes that his stint in DPL will help him in his international career in the ODIs for Afghanistan.

“I come here to avail the opportunity of playing against some real good one-day players and there are quite a few considering both foreign and local. We are learning 50-over games quite fast and to me is knowing when to attack and when to work around waiting for the right time to blaze in all cylinders that matters in ODI’s,” he conceded.