'Whole Australia is my family' – Rashid Khan grateful for support

Khan, the No.1 bowler on the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Player Rankings, vowed to stay in Australia and fulfil his Big Bash League commitments, insisting that he won't miss any games.

The star Afghanistan player is expected to make a short trip back home, perhaps during an eight-day break between matches, but said his family in Afghanistan had urged him to keep playing.

Speaking after another special performance on Thursday, 3 January, where he smashed 21* off seven balls and took 1/18, he admitted the last week had been tough. "He really supported us, he struggled a lot while giving up [a lot for us]," he said about his father. "He was always watching my games, he didn't understand cricket a lot but he just was always asking my family how I had done."

Taking a philosophical approach, he consoled himself: "It happens. It's life."

His mother, brothers, sisters and nephews, he said, "were calling me again and again. They were like, 'you have to be there, you have to play for us, you have to play for your dad. We can see you're sad, you're alone there, you're [far] from home'. That's how their motivation helped to stay here and play for the Strikers."

Khan's trademark celebrations have been absent since the New Year's Eve game, but he was touched at the support he has got from his team-mates, who rallied around him, as well as the fans. Also by his side was his senior Afghanistan team-mate, Mohammad Nabi.

"The way the team, my captain, my coaches, my management – the way they supported me has been great. They were in my room until late (after the New Year's Eve game), encouraging me. I really love that – that kept me alive there, fresh and fine. They were coming to me after five minutes and hugging me.

“I didn't feel like I’m alone here. The whole Australia is my family, everyone is looking after me very closely and very friendly and like a family member. They give me lots of love and I didn't feel myself to be alone here. I just keep in a good energy.”