Afghan spin star Rashid to play in Australia’s Big Bash

ADELAIDE: Afghanistan´s spin sensation Rashid Khan will play for the Adelaide Strikers in Australia´s Twenty20 Big Bash League later this year, the club said on Thursday.

The 18-year-old, who was one of the most successful bowlers in this year´s Indian Premier League, will become the first Afghan to feature at the tournament.

"I am very happy to have signed with the Strikers for the BBL," the leg-spinner said in a club statement.

"It is a huge honour to be a part of such a great tournament and even more of an honour to be the first Afghanistan player to participate on the BBL stage."

Adelaide Strikers coach Jason Gillespie hailed Rashid´s signing as a "major coup".

"Rashid has set the world alight in T20 cricket with his energy, enthusiasm, and great control for a young guy," Gillespie said.

"He has some great variations, can bowl stump-to-stump and can be very hard to pick.

"We´re delighted to be able to offer him the opportunity to play for the Adelaide Strikers."

Rashid has claimed 63 wickets in 29 one-day internationals, including the fourth best figures in one-day history -- 7 for 18 against the West Indies in June.

He also became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the T20 Caribbean Premier League, playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The BBL season starts on December 20.