Why globetrotting Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan loves to stay in Dubai

Dubai: He’s bowled in Bengaluru, bamboozled batters in Brisbane and bewildered crowds in Birmingham — but there’s only one city Rashid Khan truly calls home.

The 26-year-old Afghanistan leg-spinner, who has dazzled fans in every major T20 league from the IPL to the Big Bash and The Hundred, says Dubai is the place where he feels most settled — a city that has shaped his growth both as a cricketer and a person.

“The UAE has been like a spiritual home for Afghan cricket for many years, providing a safe haven and platform amid the challenges back home,” Rashid said. “I shifted to Dubai about seven to eight years ago. The city has done a lot for me.”

Rashid Khan is one of the world’s leading cricketers and a global ambassador of Afghan sports. Rashid Khan has represented Afghanistan on the international stage since 2015 and has featured in major T20 leagues around the world, including the IPL, BBL, and The Hundred. Rashid rose to become one of the most sought-after T20 players in the world — known for his fast, deceptive leg-spin and ability to win games under pressure.

“I started my career here, played lots of cricket, and got better year by year,” he said. “Dubai has given us so many opportunities. We come, play cricket and improve. It’s the safest city in the world, and that’s why I call it my second home.”

While the cricket calendar has taken him across continents, Dubai has always been his constant — the place he returns to between tournaments to rest, reset, and recharge.

“I feel like investing in Dubai was the best decision — to live here, grow bigger and better. I’ve received so much love and respect since I moved here.”

The comments came as Rashid was announced as a brand ambassador for MH Developers in Dubai, a move he described as both personal and professional. But true to form, the Afghanistan star shifted the focus back to cricket and gratitude.

“Dubai has helped me become who I am today,” he said.

From the streets of Nangarhar to global stardom, Rashid Khan’s story is one of resilience — and Dubai, he says, is where that story truly found stability.