Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan opens up on personal safety concerns

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has revealed that, unlike most sporting icons whose fame is measured in endorsements and sold-out stadiums, his prominence comes with the extraordinary burden of ensuring his personal safety.

In a candid conversation with former England captain Kevin Pietersen, Rashid disclosed that he cannot walk freely on the streets of Kabul and must travel in a bulletproof car.

"I can't walk in the street in Afghanistan. I have a bulletproof car," Rashid said matter-of-factly.

"You have a bulletproof car in Kabul? Why?" Pietersen asked, visibly stunned.

"It's for safety," Rashid explained. "You don’t want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's normal in Afghanistan. Everyone has it."

"I was not allowed to go and play outside," he said. "Playing for Afghanistan was the biggest dream we could have."

It is pertinent to mention that the Afghan leg-spinner is a dominant force in the shorter formats, thanks to his exceptional bowling record in both international and T20 cricket.

He is the leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, with 182 wickets in 108 matches at an economy rate of 6.07. In all T20 cricket, he has claimed 685 wickets in 504 games at an economy of 6.58, including four five-wicket hauls.