We won’t give away Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s Ghani tells Indian fans

KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said that he will not allowed Rashid Khan go anywhere, saying the talented cricketer was a hero.

After a match-winning all-round performance with both the bat and the ball for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rashid Khan’s Indian fans went in frenzy and demanded on the social media to give him an Indian citizenship and let him play for India.

The leggie hammered 34*runs in 10 balls and recorded figures of 3/19 in 4 overs to script a 14-run win for SRH against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Qualifier 2.

The spinner also received high praise from the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who described him as the “best T20 spinner”.

The demand from cricket fans received a response from Union Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, who replied in her usual witty manner in a tweet, which has now been deleted, “I have seen all the tweets. Citizenship matters are dealt with by Ministry of Home Affairs.”

In a tweet, President Ghani said that he will not allow Rashid Khan to go anywhere. “Afghans take absolute pride in our hero, Rashid Khan. I am also thankful to our Indian friends for giving our players a platform to show their skills,” the political leader said.

Afghans take absolute pride in our hero, Rashid Khan. I am also thankful to our Indian friends for giving our players a platform to show their skills. Rashid reminds us whats best about Afg. He remains an asset to the cricketing world. No we are not giving him away. @narendramodi

Ghani further went on to describe Rashid Khan as “an asset to the cricketing world” and asserted that he belongs to Afghanistan. “Rashid reminds us whats best about Afg. He remains an asset to the cricketing world. No, we are not giving him away,” he said.