Rashid Khan not willing to change bowling style in Test cricket

Young Afghanistan leggie Rashid Khan is making some serious progress in international cricket. The youngster has become the bowling mainstay of his national side. Also, he is one of the most sought after properties in the T20 leagues. Now, he is gearing up for a bigger challenge. Rashid will be the part of the Afghanistani lineup that will play the country’s first ever Test match.

Team India will be hosting them in the historic game that will be played in Bengaluru commencing on June 14. Everyone keeps saying that the Test matches are a different ball game. However, Rashid Khan recently conceded that he is going to continue bowling in the same way as he bowls in the shorter formats. He remarked that the actual change will be in the mindset. He needs to ensure that he does not get disappointed if he fails to pick up any wicket in the game.

“Being a Test cricketer is not a lot different to playing ODIs and T20s. I have done well in whatever four-day opportunities that I have got. If I make changes in my bowling thinking about the Test, it will not be good for me. I will bowl with the same speed I have been bowling so far,” Rashid Khan told PTI.

“I have to make sure that I don’t panic. I know there will be a phase where I won’t pick up a wicket for 20 overs. And I could pick up two in two overs. It is Test cricket. It is going to be a test of patience. There is a possibility that I might end up being wicket-less,” Rashid added.

Like a dream come true

The last few months have been like a dream come true for him. Rashid Khan fetched praises from all corners for his exceptional show in the IPL this year. He exclaimed that it was really unbelievable to see the likes of Sachin Tendulkar showering praises on him.

“I never thought in my life that I would be able to achieve so much in such a short time. It is like a dream. Sachin’s tweet was unreal. I kept on thinking for hours what to reply to him. I was really happy. Virat [Kohli] also praised me a lot and [MS] Dhoni also during the course of the IPL. It lifts your confidence a lot when they compliment you,” the youngster exclaimed.

On the camaraderie with players

The current lot of the Afghanistan side boasts of a good spin department. There is experience in the form of Mohammad Nabi and there is excitement in the form of younger players like Rashid and Mujeeb Rahman. Rashid remarked that the players share great camaraderie among themselves. He also praised Mujeeb as a very talented bowler and believes that the youngster will do wonders for the national side in the years to come.

“We back each other. Whether it is Mohammad Nabi, who is a senior player, and [or] Mujeeb. We share whatever knowledge we have. Mujeeb has been superb and amazing so far. He has lots of skills and in future he will be able to do even better. We have a good pool of players at the first-class level back in Afghanistan. They just need a little polishing and experience,” Rashid remarked.

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