Rashid Khan Eyes Higher Batting Role for Afghanistan as He Works on His Game

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan wants greater responsibility with the bat and believes he can contribute more effectively if given the opportunity to move higher up the batting order.

Rashid is already one of Afghanistan’s most important players with the ball, but his ambitions are not limited to his world-class leg-spin. The Afghanistan star has been putting considerable effort into improving his batting and wants to become an even more complete all-round option for his country.

Rashid wants to bat higher

Rashid has often been used as a lower-order hitter for Afghanistan, where his ability to find boundaries and score quickly can be valuable during the final overs.

However, the 27-year-old believes he is capable of doing more.

Rather than arriving only when Afghanistan need quick runs at the end of an innings, Rashid would like the opportunity to spend more time at the crease and develop his batting under match conditions.

His attacking style has already produced memorable innings in international and franchise cricket, but becoming a dependable middle-order option would add another dimension to Afghanistan’s batting line-up.

Putting in the work

Rashid’s ambition to move up the order is being backed by extra work in training.

Batting has become an increasingly important part of his preparation, with Rashid looking to improve the technical side of his game rather than relying only on his natural ability to hit the ball.

That work could become particularly important for Afghanistan, who have sometimes struggled to maintain momentum through the middle and latter stages of an innings.

Having Rashid available as a genuine batting option would potentially allow Afghanistan greater flexibility when deciding their batting order.

More than Afghanistan’s leading spinner

For years, Rashid’s biggest impact has come with the ball.

His quick leg-breaks, variations and ability to take wickets while controlling the scoring rate have made him one of the most recognised Afghan cricketers in the world.

But his batting has also developed.

Rashid possesses the power to clear the boundary and has developed an unconventional range of attacking shots that can make him difficult to bowl to when he gets going.

Moving higher in the order would be a different challenge, however. It would require Rashid not only to attack but also to build an innings, rotate the strike and adapt to different match situations.

Afghanistan could benefit from another all-round option

Developing Rashid into a more regular middle-order batter could provide Afghanistan with additional depth.

Afghanistan already have established batting and all-round options, including players such as Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi. Adding Rashid as another player capable of making meaningful contributions with the bat could strengthen the balance of the team.

It could also give Afghanistan more freedom when selecting their bowling attack.

Rashid’s development as a batter therefore isn’t simply about personal ambition. If successful, it could give Afghanistan’s team management another tactical option.

Focus remains on the India series

Rashid’s comments come during Afghanistan’s T20I series against India, where Afghanistan are facing one of the strongest and deepest squads in international cricket.

The series provides Afghanistan with an opportunity to test different combinations and identify areas that need improvement.

For Rashid, it is another chance to show that his contribution to Afghanistan can extend beyond the four overs he delivers with the ball.

Whether Afghanistan ultimately decide to promote their captain remains to be seen, but Rashid has made his ambition clear: he wants more responsibility with the bat, and he is working for the opportunity to earn it.

Source: ESPNcricinfo
Adapted and rewritten for Afghan Atalan