IPL 2022 Retention: It Has Been A Wonderful Journey, Thank You For Believing In Me - Rashid Khan Reacts After Being Released By SRH

Updated - 01 Dec 2021, 03:58 PM

Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan (Image Credit: Twitter)

Perhaps the biggest shocker from the IPL 2022 retention list on Tuesday was the absence of Rashid Khan, who has now parted ways with Sunrisers Hyderabad, a franchise he has been with since 2017.

This 5-season association has come to an end – or at least for now if Ahmedabad or Lucknow don’t acquire his services before the mega auction – as SRH retained skipper Kane Williamson (14 cr), and uncapped Indians Abdul Samad (4 cr), Umran Malik (4 cr).

Rashid Khan picked 93 wickets in 76 IPL matches for SRH at an economy of 6.33 and was arguably the most fearsome bowler in the SRH attack.

Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan (Image Credit: Twitter)

The Afghanistan leg-spinner took to his social accounts to thank the franchise for “believing in me” at an early stage in his career. He remains grateful to the fans for their continuous support.

“It has been a wonderful journey with the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Thank you for your support, love and for believing in me.

“To the #OrangeArmy you’ve been my pillar of strength and I shall forever be grateful for such wonderful fans,” Rashid Khan wrote in his Instagram post. 

Rashid Khan wanted to be the first retention: Report

According to a report in Cricbuzz, Rashid Khan and SRH had been in negotiations about the priority of the cricketer’s retention before the spinner opted out: Rashid wanted to be the first retention pick, while SRH had decided Williamson as their top spot player.

“SRH wanted to keep the spinner as their No 2 retention. It would have meant that Rashid would be entitled to a fee of Rs 11 crore, which is Rs 2 crore more than his current salary,” Cricbuzz stated.

“After initially refusing to be the second retention, Rashid apparently relented but later reneged. SRH say they still have a good equation with the player but not as much with a London-based agent who was playing hardball with the franchise.”

Rashid Khan and Kane Williamson
Rashid Khan and Kane Williamson. Credits: Twitter

CEO of Sunrisers Hyderabad, K Shammi, later also said that the franchise respects Khan’s decision, and if available, they will try to get him back in the mega auction.

Ahmedabad and Lucknow have the deadline of selecting their top three players (two Indians and one overseas) from the available pool, which, apart from Rashid Khan, includes KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Retention: Kumar Sangakkara Explains Why Jofra Archer And Ben Stokes Weren’t Retained By RR

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IPL 2022 Rashid Khan SRH