Afghanistan superstar Rashid Khan has made a striking revelation, sharing that he was once offered Indian citizenship — an opportunity he chose to decline in order to remain loyal to his country. As per reports, the star leg-spinner also received a similar offer from Australia, which included the possibility of representing them at the international level.
The revelation features in his book Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom, which traces his inspiring journey from Nangarhar to becoming one of the biggest names in global cricket. While Rashid has enjoyed immense success across T20 leagues worldwide, this episode underlines his unwavering commitment to Afghanistan.
“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 states in the book.
His words reflect a firm and deeply personal stance. Despite lucrative opportunities and global recognition, Rashid remained resolute in his decision to represent only the Afghanistan national team.
The book further reveals that the Indian approach reportedly took place during the 2023 IPL season, when Rashid was a key player for Gujarat Titans. According to him, a team official facilitated a meeting with a senior figure from the Indian cricket setup.
Recalling the interaction, Rashid said: “I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said, ‘The situation in your country is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here.’ I was surprised and didn’t know how to respond.”
He added that he handled the situation respectfully but stood firm on his decision. “I smiled and said, ‘Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan.’”
This isn’t the first time Rashid’s association with India has sparked discussion. Back in 2018, after a stellar IPL performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad, several fans on social media called for him to be granted Indian citizenship. At the time, former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj clarified that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, while former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani emphasised that Rashid was a matter of national pride.
However, this latest revelation carries greater weight as it comes directly from Rashid himself. Beyond cricketing success, it highlights a defining aspect of his identity — unwavering loyalty to his homeland.
