Rashid Khan Says He Got Citizenship Offers from India and Australia, Chooses to Play for Afghanistan
New Delhi, | April 20, 2026 | DeccanLive.com
Afghanistan star cricketer Rashid Khan has revealed that he received offers of citizenship from India and Australia. However, he made it clear that he will continue to play international cricket only for Afghanistan.
Speaking about the incident, Rashid said that during the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a senior official approached him with this proposal.
“I received citizenship offers from two countries – India and Australia. At that time, I said only one thing. If I don’t play for my own country, I will not play for any other country,” Rashid stated.
He recalled that while playing for Gujarat Titans in the IPL, a high-ranking official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India met him and suggested that he could move to India.
“The official told me that the situation in Afghanistan is not good and asked me to come and settle in India. He said they would provide all necessary documents and that I could live and play cricket here,” Rashid explained.
Rashid said he was surprised by the offer and did not know how to respond at first. “I smiled and thanked him, but I clearly said that I want to play cricket for my country, Afghanistan,” he added.
The star spinner’s statement highlights his strong commitment and loyalty to Afghanistan cricket despite opportunities from other major cricketing nations.
