NEWS
Follow UsArguably the best white-ball spinner of the current generation, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan feels that the spinners will play a massive role in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman. The 23-year-old said they will always be effective in the UAE conditions.
"Conditions here are always good for spinners and it should be a spinners' World Cup. Doesn't matter how wickets are prepared here, it is always helpful for the spinners. Spinners will play a huge role in this World Cup," Rashid told ESPNcricinfo's Cricket Monthly.
"As we have seen in the IPL, spinners have brought back their team in the game. I feel that will be the same in the World Cup as well. The best spinners will bring their team back in the game and win it."
The legspinner was once again impressive in the recently concluded Indian Premier League. Rashid claimed 18 wickets in 14 games at a stunning economy rate of 6.69.
In the IPL games hosted in the UAE since 2020, spinners have been far more economical than seamers. They have also picked up close to 30 percent of the total wickets in each of the three venues - Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
"On October 3, we (SRH) played against KKR, they had around four spinners, all of whom bowled at an economy of 4-5 runs per over. Doesn't matter whatever the kind of wicket is, spinners are always effective in UAE conditions," said Rashid.
"At the same time we need to bowl well as well, it is not just enough to say everything will be done by the wicket. No, no, no."
Afghanistan, who have won all of their 14 T20Is at the three venues in the UAE, are in Group 2 along with India, Pakistan and New Zealand. Rashid said that the Afghanistan spinners will have to do "lots of hard work" because the batters from these three teams are "good players of spin".
More importantly, Rashid wants his team to do well in the batting department. “As long as you have a good total, if it is a slow track, skiddy, as a spinner it is very, very helpful because you can show your skills there and you can get the wickets. In this World Cup if you bat well, we (Afghanistan) can beat any side."