Rashid Khan named ICC men's T20I player of the decade

Sussex’s Vitality Blast overseas superstar, Rashid Khan has been named the International Cricket Council’s Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade.

The Afghan leg-spinner was nominated for the award alongside Australia’s Aaron Finch, West Indies’ Chris Gayle, India’s Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and South Africa’s Imran Tahir.

🇦🇫 RASHID KHAN is the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade 👏👏

☝️ Highest wicket-taker in the #ICCAwards period ➜ 89
🅰️ 12.62 average 🤯
💥 Three four-wicket hauls, two five-fors

What a story ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y59Y6nCs98

— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020

Since his T20I debut in October 2015, Rashid has taken 89 wickets in 48 matches with an average of just 12.62 and an incredible economy rate of 6.14 runs per over.

The 22-year-old has also played some blistering innings from the lower-middle order and has captained his country in seven T20Is.

Rashid first joined Sussex Sharks for the 2018 Vitality Blast and returned in 2019. The global pandemic forced him to miss the 2020 campaign, but he has signed for the 2021 competition.

The other ICC player of the decades winners are Virat Kohli (men’s overall and men’s ODI), Steve Smith (men’s Test) and Ellyse Perry (women’s overall, women’s ODI and women’s T20I).