Never said I'll marry once I win the World Cup, my focus is on cricket: Rashid Khan

Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has denied the rumours that he will tie the knots upon winning the World Cup. He stated that his sole focus remains to deliver for his team at the mega event, the main round of which begins on October 23. Afghanistan, who are in group two, begin the campaign against a qualifying team on October 25 in Sharjah.

“Actually, I was so shocked when I heard this because, to be honest, I never made a statement that I will marry once I win the World Cup,” Rashid was quoted as saying by News18.

“I just said that in the next few years I have more cricket and three World Cups (the 2021 and 2022 Twenty20 World Cups and the 50-over World Cup in 2023) so my focus will be on cricket rather than on getting married,” he added.

Meanwhile, after losing their first warm-up game by 41 runs against South Africa, Afghanistan handed a thumping defeat to one of the favourites to lift the title, West Indies, on October 20 in their final warm-up game, restricting their star-studded batting line up 56 runs short of the 190-run target. Rashid could not pick a wicket but conceded runs at a miserly economy of 4.66 in his four-over spell.

Rashid Khan reveals his top five T20I players

In a recent interaction with ICC, Rashid revealed his choices for the best T20I players currently. Interestingly, he did not include himself, with Virat Kohli, Kieron Pollard, Kane Williamson, Ab de Villiers and Hardik Pandya being his choices.

“Doesn’t really depend on the wicket, doesn’t matter whatever the wicket is, he is someone who is going to step up and perform,” Rashid said of Kohli.

He chose New Zealand skipper for his calming influence in the team, whereas while revealing his third choice, Ab de Villiers, Rashid said: “A destructive batsman. Someone who can give you quick runs at any stage, any wicket, against any bowler and he can play any shot. As a captain, you will always love to have that batsman.”

“These two [Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard] will be my key batters who can chase 80-90 when I need them in the last four-five overs,” Khan said of Pollard and Pandya. “They are the kind of batsmen who can do the job for you easily.”