Its normal in Afghanistan: Rashid Khan reveals he uses bulletproof car to travel in his home country

Afghanistan cricket team star Rashid Khan recently opened up on the strong security measures he has to undertake while travelling in his own country. Rashid revealed he uses a bulletproof car to travel in Afghanistan due to security reasons. The star cricketer stated that he cannot travel in a normal car.

Rashid made the revelation while speaking to former England batter Kevin Pietersen on his show The Switch. The spinner's candid admission left Pietersen shocked and fascinated.

"No chance. I can’t even go in a normal car. I have to have a bulletproof car. I travel in my own bulletproof car only," Rashid told Pietersen, when asked what is life like for him in his country and if he can travel on the streets freely.

In disbelief after Rashid's revelation, Pietersen wondered if taking such extreme precaution while travelling was necessary. However, Rashid explained him how he might not be targeted directly, but needs protection to avoid unnecessary situations given the unpredictability of such incidents in Afghanistan.

"Yeah, I have to. I need it. It’s for my safety. No one is going to shoot me. But maybe, if I end up in the wrong place and in the wrong time. It’s locked and sometimes people even try to open it," the Afghanistan spinner told Pietersen, who was left amazed and labelled the situation 'fascinating'.

Rashid further revealed that such security measures are not uncommon in Afghanistan and that many people travel in bulletproof cars in the country, which is governed by the Taliban after the fall of the previous government.

"Yeah, I got it specially made. So many people use it. It’s a normal thing in Afghanistan," Rashid explained.

Rashid's candid revelation underlines the realities faced by athletes and common people in Afghanistan. It also highlights the stark contrast between his life in his home country and abroad. A global T20 star now, Rashid has made Dubai his second home, but remains deeply connected to his Afghan roots.

He is arguably Afghanistan's most prominent sporting star, having established his credentials as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. Rashid is a T20 globetrotter as he plays for numerous franchises across top franchise leagues from the Indian Premier League to the Big Bash League and The Hundred in England.

The former Afghanistan captain has also been a consistent performer for his national team in white-ball cricket. He has played six Tests, 117 ODIs and 108 T20Is for Afghanistan in his international career so far, and has 437 wickets to his name in all three formats combined. Rashid will be one of the key players for Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be played in February-March next year.