Indian Citizenship for Rashid Khan? Asghar Stanikzai has his Say

A few days ago, there was a trend going around social media in which the Indian fans had demanded Indian citizenship for Afghanistan sensation, Rashid Khan.

The fans had come up with the request after Rashid’s sensational performance against Kolkata Knight Riders in the second qualifier of IPL 2018.

Rashid Khan had slammed 34 off just ten balls before taking three wickets to send his team to the final. And as soon as the game ended, the fans started demanding Indian citizenship for the world number one T20I spinner.

The tweets were also noticed by Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani, and they had also reacted to it.

Afghans take absolute pride in our hero, Rashid Khan. I am also thankful to our Indian friends for giving our players a platform to show their skills. Rashid reminds us whats best about Afg. He remains an asset to the cricketing world. No we are not giving him away. @<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->n<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->a<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->r<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->e<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->n<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->d<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->r<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->a<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->m<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->o<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->d<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->i

— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) M<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->a<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->y<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!----> <!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->2<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->5<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->,<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!----> <!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->2<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->0<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->1<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->8

Well, Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai has now responded to the Indians fans’ demand. In a recent interview, Stanikzai made it clear the Afghans will not give away their prized asset to India.

“I think whoever loves his country, will not take the nationality of any other country. India is our best friend, and there is no doubt about it. Our friendship with India has been great and if you see our home ground is India too. I think this nationality thing was just a joke, and nobody takes it seriously,” he told DNA.

“Afghanistan has made Rashid Khan. Rashid Khan has not made Afghanistan. Afghanistan hai to Rashid hai, Afghanistan nahi toh Rashid kuch nahi hai. Main point, is country first, people come later whether they are big or small. Country is the identity of the player. Rashid Khan got identity through Afghanistan. I think, nobody will do anything like this (laughs),” he added.

Rashid finished the season as the second leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets to his name.

Afghanistan are currently gearing up for their first-ever Test against India. The game will start on June 14 at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

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