Rashid Khan, 22, who is Afghanistan’s star spinner has been the highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals in the past 10 years with 89 scalps at average of 12.62.
“I am speechless after this award. For someone from Afghanistan to get this award, it is a special moment for me, for my country and for my fans,” Khan said in a video message on ICC’s Twitter.
He said that his next target will be improving his batting skills.
“I have played for five years and my target is to play for another 10 years and keep on doing well,” he said speaking in the footage. “I have been doing well in bowling and in the coming years I will be focussing on contributing with the bat also,” Khan continued.
Following the announcement, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and a number of prominent figures congratulated him on being named as the T20 International’s Cricketer of the Decade.
Follow TKG on Twitter & Facebook