Sussex's Afghan community meet Rashid Khan at Hove

Sussex Cricket welcomed more than eighty members of the county’s Afghan community to The1st Central County Ground on Wednesday night for Sussex Sharks’ Vitality Blast match against Gloucestershire.

After enthusiastically supporting Rashid and the Sharks throughout the match, the group – predominantly based in Brighton and Hove – were invited onto the pitch to meet Afghanistan leg-spinner and Sussex’s overseas player, Rashid Khan.

After posing for a photo, the group had a chance to talk and take selfies with the world’s number one T20 bowler.

A number of those in attendance play cricket for Palmers CC in Hove or in Brighton’s ‘Last Man Stands’ competition and were quick to ask Rashid for advice on their game.

Muala Gul, a leader in the local Afghan community, said: “Today was really brilliant and thank you very much for being so friendly and welcoming us to your club.

“Everyone appreciated the opportunity and loved seeing and meeting the legend Rashid Khan.”

Chris Coleman, Sussex Cricket’s Head of Community Cricket, added: “The Sussex Cricket Foundation is all about changing lives through cricket.

“To be able to invite the local Afghan community down to meet one of their country’s heroes is an amazing opportunity to help inspire a passion for cricket and widen our reach into the community. Their love and enthusiasm for the game was great to see."