Afghanistan's star cricketer Rashid Khan has revealed that he has turned down the Indian citizenship in order to stay loyal to his country of origin. The leg-spinner received this offer during an IPL season, where he was representing Gujarat Titans.
Rashid Khan to Play for India? Afghanistan Cricketer Response Goes Viral
Being one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, Rashid is probably the biggest sportsperson coming out from Afghanistan. His influence comes on the back of superb performances on the field while playing for various teams, apart from representing his country.
Why Rashid Khan Turned Down Indian Citizenship?
Rashid revealed the whole incident in his upcoming book ‘Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom’. He reveals how he was offered the Indian citizenship during the IPL 2023 season.
"I received such offers 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 said according to the book.
The star leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, adds that a highly ranked official from the BCCI contacted him and wanted to meet him. He further revealed how the official asked Rashid to stay in India and he will get all the required documents regarding the citizenship. However, he politely denied the offer.
"I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: 'The situation in your country (Afghanistan) is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here.' 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,'" Rashid remembered.
Not just in India, Rashid Khan citizenship offer was from Australia as well. However, he didn't reveal about this part in detail. It is to be noted that Rashid is one of the most famous cricketers in the world and enjoys a huge fan following in India. He is a constant face in the Indian Premier League, where he is one of the marquee players.
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Rashid Khan's Massive Popularity in India
Rashid Khan Indian citizenship denial has quickly gone viral on social media. The move came at a time when Afghanistan were struggling under the Taliban regime. Despite being a global superstar, Rashid has a beautiful home in Afghanistan and lives there with his big family.
However, he is equally loved in India as well. He is one of the most popular overseas cricketers in the country and has spoken about receiving lots of affection previously. But he remains committed to represent his homeland for the rest of his life.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which team does Rashid Khan represent in the IPL?
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Which team does Rashid Khan represent in the IPL?
Rashid Khan represents Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
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