IPL 2018: The four Afghan players on show

For the first time in the 10 year history of the IPL, there will be 4 players from the country of Afghanistan representing various franchises in the tournament. All the four players are promising cricketers and will be very valuable to their respective teams as they begin their campaign in IPL 2018. Afghanistan is currently a full fledged member of the ICC. The Afghanistan Cricket Board would be ecstatic that their players are getting the recognition they deserve on a platform as big as this. India is playing a Test match against Afghanistan for the first time ever on June 14 in Bengaluru and this could be the beginning of better things to come for Afghanistan Cricket.

Let's take a look at the 4 players featuring this year and analyse their skills.

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#4 Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Rashid Khan is a vastly experienced T20 bowler

After picking up 17 wickets from 14 games at an outstanding economy rate of 6.62 for SRH in IPL 2017, Rashid Khan was bound to spark a bidding war at the IPL 2018 players auction. The Hyderabad franchise used their Right To Match card and retained his services at a whooping amount of INR 9 crores. This leg break bowler had a huge role to play in taking the team to the knockout stages last season. He will look to create the same sort of impact for the team this year as well.

Rashid is hard to read off the pitch and bamboozles the batsmen with the occasional googly. He will only know too well that the batsmen in the opposition will come prepared after watching and analyzing his bowling. Hence, he is sure to bring a new set of tricks to the IPL this year.

#3 Zahir Khan Pakteen (Rajasthan Royals)

Zahir Khan will be making his debut in IPL 2018

Zahir is a left arm chinaman bowler who will be making his first appearance in the IPL this year. He was bought by the Rajasthan Royals for INR 60 lakhs after a small bidding exchange with the Mumbai Indians. He has taken 15 wickets in 8 T20 matches at a splendid bowling average of 13.53. Zahir is keen on doing well in the IPL and would like to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countryman Rashid Khan.

The bowler is excited at the prospect of interacting with Shane Warne, who is the mentor of the Rajasthan Royals this year. He will look to make the most of the opportunity and pick up a trick or two from the Australian leg spinning legend.

#2 Mohammad Nabi (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mohammad Nabi is back with SRH in IPL 2018

All-rounder Mohammad Nabi was bought back for INR 1 crore by the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL 2018 players auction. Nabi had a forgettable season last year after playing only three matches for the Hyderabad franchise. He has a career strike rate of just under 140 and can take apart any bowling attack on his day. With the ball in hand, Nabi bowls wicket to wicket at an outstanding economy of 6.82 in the T20 format.

This year, Nabi will take every chance he gets and look to win a few matches for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who've shown faith in him and retained him for another year. He is a versatile player who can come in at any stage of the innings and take the challenge to the opposition.

#1 Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Kings XI Punjab)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the youngest player to feature in the IPL

Mujeeb is a 17-year-old right arm off spinner who is a regular in the current Afghanistan ODI side. A lot of people were left surprised when he triggered a bidding war that saw him rise to INR 4 crores from a base price of INR 50 lakh in the IPL 2018 players auction. He is the youngest player ever to be picked by an IPL franchise in the ten year history of the tournament.

Mujeeb operates at a more than respectable economy of 6.45 in T20s. He has the traditional off spinner, the leg spinner and the occasional googly in his bowling quiver. He is a "complete package", as quoted by Afghanistan coach Andy Moles. Mujeeb Ur Rahman could prove to be the find of the tournament this year.