Rashid Khan wants to remain with Strikers and is fine-tuning mystery balls that could help win second BBL title
He’s a fan favourite and Rashid Khan has a little bag of tricks which he hopes can help win his beloved Adelaide Strikers a second Big Bash title this summer.
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Premier leg-spinner Rashid Khan is promising double trouble for BBL rivals this summer and wants to remain with Adelaide Strikers long-term.
The world’s No.1 Twenty bowler Rashid was an inspired signing by coach Jason Gillespie in September 2017 and pivotal to the franchise’s inaugural title in BBL 07.
Rashid, 21, signed a two-year contract extension in February 2018 and is intent on continuing under his Strikers and Sussex boss Gillespie.
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“To be honest I would love to be playing for Adelaide Strikers while I am playing cricket. I would love to be here again and again until they say ‘thank you’ and leave me,” Rashid told The Advertiser.
Adelaide has a special place in the heart of the first Afghan to front in the BBL. Rashid has amassed a small fortune in the Indian Premier League and signed for Hundred franchise Trent but hasn’t forgotten the chance he was afforded by the Strikers as a teenager.
“I am available every year,” said Rashid despite his management fielding interest from other BBL sides.
“It is good to be back in Adelaide, my third year, a great opportunity to show my talent and skills here.”
Behind the happy exterior is an ultimate competitor. Rashid is developing mystery balls that the superstar tweaker is determined will fuel a second Strikers title.
He took 18 wickets at 19 last season but opponents were content to sit on Adelaide’s match-winner which frustrated Rashid.
Rashid will be aggressive and fine-tune variations ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Sydney Thunder in Canberra.
“I have worked on a few more deliveries which I haven’t delivered in a T20 game yet but I will try to work on a few in the Big Bash,” said Rashid who began trialling his variations in Tests against West Indies and Bangladesh this year.
“I am working a lot on them in the nets. The consistency will be better than last year.
“It is the same grip with a little bit it of bounce. I had only the one grip for a wrong’un and now I have two more different grips.
“It is something I have been working on for two years working in the nets to make it 100 per cent perfect and deliver it in games.”
Adelaide’s slide to seventh in its title defence coincided with the loss of Rashid’s father last December. Rashid battled bravely through the tournament but Adelaide didn’t click until the final game against Perth Scorchers in a five-wicket win.
Rashid is out to emulate Adelaide’s feel good success of 2017-18.
“I think we have the best combination and looks more balanced. I will be available for the full season. We need to focus on going to the final and winning the championship,” said Rashid with Adelaide bolstering its batting with opener Phil Salt and Cameron White.
“Hopefully we can repeat the performances of BBL 07.”
Bettering a slow start last summer that saw Adelaide win one of its first three games before losing three in succession in mid-January is crucial.
“The first three or four games are very important for us and gives confidence,” said Rashid, who features for Sunrisers Hyderabad-led Kane Williamson in the IPL.
“How we finished, we need to take that momentum.”