Watch: Rashid Khan’s inspiring speech before Afghanistan’s win over Sri Lanka

Rashid Khan played his 100th ODI for Afghanistan against Sri Lanka.

Rashid Khan, the star Afghanistan spinner, gave an inspiring speech before the team defeated Sri Lanka in their latest ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match, which was played in Pune on October 30. This gave Afghanistan their third win in the ongoing tournament.

Afghanistan put Sri Lanka to the test first. Lankan Lions' wickets fell at regular intervals. Pathum Nissanka (46 in 60 balls, five fours), Kusal Mendis (39 in 50 balls, three fours), and Sadeera Samarawickrama (36 in 40 balls, three fours) pushed Sri Lanka to 241 in 49.3 overs.

Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/34) was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan. Mujeeb took two wickets, while Rashid and Azmatullah Omarzai took one wicket each. This was also Rashid’s 100th ODI match for Afghanistan.

Chasing 242 runs, half-centuries from Azmatullah Omarzai (73* in 63 balls, with six fours and three sixes), Rahmat Shah (62 in 74 balls, with seven fours), and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (58* in 74 balls, with two fours and a six) helped Afghanistan seal a 7-wickets win.

Afghanistan now stands in fifth place with six points after winning three out of their six games.

“Thousands pray for us and watch our matches only to see Afghanistan win," says Rashid Khan

Before Afghan team’s crunch match against Bangladesh, Rashid Khan gave an inspiring speech to his teammates, pushing them to fight for every run. Rashid Khan is seen motivating his team and urging them that their main goal should be to defeat the opposing side.

"Remember these three things. Firstly, every ball we fight, if it's our batting, if it's our bowling, or if it's our fielding, Our only focus should be to fight it out with the other team. Don't think about the outcome or whether we will win or not; instead, focus on the finer details, and these finer details will paint the bigger picture. Fight for every ball," Rashid Khan said in a video shared by the ICC.

Khan went on to say that thousands of people pray for them and watch their matches in order to see Afghanistan win and triumph because cricket is the only thing that offers joy and happiness to the country.

"Even if I come out to bowl later on no matter how wet the ball is I will put in my 100% effort for the team because if I think that the ball is too wet. I won't be able to bowl well and automatically, I will concede runs because mentally, I would probably give up. So whether we ball first or second in every moment we will trust ourselves and will put in 100% effort. Thousands pray for us and watch our matches only to see Afghanistan win and triumph because cricket is the only thing that brings joy and happiness in Afghanistan" Afghan star said.

"So as a team we shouldn't take the pressure, we only focus on the effort. Everyone wants to see that effort not just the result but a real honest effort. So as a team, we will get in and put in the effort and we also make sure of the biggest thing that we keep smiling Go on boys," Rashid said.

Watch the video here:

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