'We are a lesson to youngsters back home in Afghanistan'
Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, the first Afghanistan players in the IPL, talk about life with Sunrisers Hyderabad, being role models, and travelling the world for cricket
Nabi: (laughs) I think when we were selected for IPL, it was early morning six o' clock [in Zimbabwe, where Afghanistan were playing]. I went to Rashid's room to congratulate him for being picked up for Rs 4 crore [approximately US$615,000]. He was in shock. He was like, is it a dream or what? I said it was a part of cricket, part of life.
Rashid: Actually, they didn't. We were busy for the last three months; there was continuous cricket. So we didn't get enough time to celebrate, to throw such parties. Hopefully after the IPL, we will have some.
Nabi: Everyone in Afghanistan was waiting for the IPL auction. When we were selected for Sunrisers Hyderabad, everyone was calling and messaging, especially people from our cricket board - the chairman, the CEO. There were calls and messages from family and friends to congratulate us, and tell us that it was a wonderful achievement for us as well as the country.
Nabi: I think Tom Moody, the coach, congratulated me on Twitter on behalf of the Sunrisers family. He was the first.
Rashid: When I landed here in the night of the first of April, they came to the airport and took me to the hotel. It was a nice gathering here in the hotel and they gave me a good welcome. It was a good night and I really enjoyed it.
"He always motivates and supports the youngsters who come into the team. He gives us time and supports us to play good cricket. I really enjoy playing with him"Rashid on Nabi
Nabi: All team-mates are very good and very supportive. It is like a good family. Starting from the players - the big names like [David] Warner, Yuvraj [Singh], [Shikhar] Dhawan and [Kane] Williamson - and the support staff, everyone is very good and keen to talk to you.
Nabi: It was a very good feeling to see an Afghan playing in the IPL for the first time. He would have been under a little bit of pressure as well, because it was a huge crowd and it was a good opposition. When he got his first wicket, I don't know what happened to me. I started celebrating. It is a good start for his tournament and for his career.
Rashid: Yeah, exactly. I have been with him in the national side for the last one and half years, and he has supported me from that time. He always motivates and supports the youngsters who come into the team. He gives us time and supports us to play good cricket. He has supported me through my career and I really enjoy playing with him and spending some time with him. So it is great for me to have Nabi in the IPL as well.
Nabi: No. Right from the time he came into the team, he has been very quiet. He is a really nice guy as well and not that much naughty at all. All the time he is just focused on his cricket. Off the cricket field, he is just a silent guy.
Rashid: I think there is nothing secretive about him, nothing that people don't know. What you see is what he is. I don't think there is anything he hides from his people.
Rashid: I met him when we were in the academy and he came there. We had already watched him in the T20 World Cup. The innings which I really love is the one he played against Australia in Sharjah. I have great memories of him from that innings. When I met him, it was again a wonderful day because he is like a star in Afghanistan.
Nabi: Ah, yeah. The coach said he was a good talent and a promising youngster. When he was bowling to me, I could see that he was very quick through the air but the line and length was not in the correct area. I just told him, you have good talent and you must work hard and get into the national side very soon. After a few months, he was selected in the Under-19 team.
Nabi: (laughs) Yeah, when he gets a wicket, he goes like Shahid Afridi [in unleashing the Starman celebration].
Rashid: I actually had a chat with Afridi while I was playing in the BPL.
Nabi: Many heroes, yaar. Kevin Pietersen is my idol, and then MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
Nabi: Ah, no, I was looking for 07 but 007 popped up as an option. That's why I picked it.
Nabi: Yeah, Aamir Khan is good.
Nabi: When we are not training at the nets or swimming, we are resting in our rooms. Otherwise we are with our families.
"When he was bowling to me, I could see that he was very quick through the air but the line and length was not in the correct area. I just told him, you have good talent and you must work hard and get into the national side very soon"Nabi on Rashid
Nabi: Ah, the wives of all the players are unhappy that we are away all the time, playing cricket! Also, my kid is going to school, so the family can't travel with me. That's why it's a little bit of a problem. It's a busy year for me this time. From here I go straight to the West Indies for three ODIs and three T20s. After that we will be back home for a month before going to Lord's for a match in July. After that I have a little bit of time at home before the CPL starts.
Rashid: We have been busy for the last two years with continuous cricket. We played in the UAE and we went to Zimbabwe for five ODIs, and then came here and spent one month [in Greater Noida for Afghanistan's "home" matches] and now the IPL. So it has been quite a long journey for us. But, you know, too much travel is difficult only in the beginning. Once we got used to it, we became more relaxed, and now we are actually enjoying it.
Nabi: Football isn't allowed in our warm-up sessions any longer; it has been banned. Some players picked up injuries, so we didn't want to take the risk.
Nabi: Not so far. It is a very tough game. You have to be a good rider and have a good pick-up as well.
Rashid: I think I will pick up… I forgot the name.
Rashid and Nabi: Yeah, yeah. (laugh)
Rashid: I will choose Dangal.
Rashid and Nabi: Yeah.
Rashid: Yeah, exactly. (both laugh)
(both laugh) Rashid: I think… both are nice.
Rashid: No, no, I think both are looking good with that.
Rashid: Exactly, it is a good message for all. Once you lose your hair, you have a good example to follow. (both laugh)
Nabi: I think he isn't popular. He is studying now. He is a star hero only from the last one year.
Nabi: Not that well, but it's a team game. There were three teams playing against each other. But I was looking good. (laughs)
"You know, too much travel is difficult only in the beginning. Once we got used to it, we became more relaxed, and now we are actually enjoying it"Rashid
Rashid: No, I don't think I am good. I can only hit the white ball.
Rashid: I love playing badminton and also football.
Nabi: No, but I barbecue sometimes.
Rashid: I have visited Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and all those places, but I love Scotland. I think when we were in Scotland, it was the Ramzan month and we were fasting every day. So we were unable to go outside and enjoy things. We were in the room all the time.
Nabi: It is a big lesson for the youngsters back home in Afghanistan. We are both good examples to them that Afghanistan have good talent as well, and if there is no violence in Afghanistan, everyone will come up.
Rashid: When we were travelling for a match, I saw on the way that kids were playing with the tennis ball. I told the driver to stop so that I could enjoy a game of cricket with them. When I went there, it led to many great moments and they really enjoyed the game with us.
Nabi: It is very difficult.
Arun Venugopal is a correspondent at ESPNcricinfo. @scarletrun