The Sunday Mail
ZIMBABWE’s chief tormentor in the second Test, Rashid Khan, is expected to make his 50th appearance when Afghanistan square off against the Chevrons in the second Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi Friday.
Khan is currently the joint-fourth-highest wicket-taker in men’s T20Is with Shakib Al Hasan.
He needs two more wickets to go past Tim Southee (93 wickets), as Lasith Malinga (107) and Shahid Afridi (98) occupy the top two spots.
The spinner is one of the obstacles that lay in wait for the Chevrons, whose gaffer Lalchand Rajput has demanded a response from their 48-run defeat on Wednesday.
The Chevrons’ series currently hangs in the balance.
“We just had two days to switch from red ball to white ball cricket and it takes a bit of time to really get into the right white-ball mode,” said Rajput, in his post-match address on Wednesday.
“We didn’t bowl well during the first power play, but came back well at the death.
“One game has gone, and that should give us that edge that we are in the groove and we will come back very strongly in the next game.
“As a batting unit, we have to pull up our socks and the guys have to take responsibility.
“We did not have a good partnership, in the first game, and that is one of the areas we lacked.
“Good partnership help lighten the load in the last couple of overs.
“Afghanistan is a very good T20 side, and we are to beat them we have to get good partnerships and score big,” he said.
Rashid Khan, a global T20 superstar, was one of the architects of Afghanistan’s series-levelling second Test win, single-handedly working magic for them.
His presence automatically lifts a young side, many of whom are slowly spreading their wings in leagues like the BBL, CPL and the Abu Dhabi T10.
Most times, his four overs are like an insurance policy when they defend or are under sustained aggression from opponents.
While he lived up to his reputation on Wednesday too, Zimbabwe will be hoping to contain the 22-year-old if they entertain any hopes of levelling the series. – Sports reporter/Cricinfo.
