Kabuliwala Meets KKR Star: Assam's Shahzada Khan And Afghan Cricketer Rahmanullah Gurbaz Bond Over Cricket, Shared Heritage

The meeting, although brief, was filled with warmth and mutual respect. The two men greeted each other in Pashto, a language that Shahzada Khan rarely has the opportunity to speak in Assam and exchanged a Gamocha—an iconic symbol of hospitality in Assam.

The conversation between the two was not just limited to cricket. Khan, who has long held a connection with his Afghan roots, welcomed Gurbaz to Assam, asking him about his experience of playing in India.

The exchange highlighted the shared bond between the two, with Gurbaz inviting Khan to visit Afghanistan, his homeland, while Khan expressed his love for Assam, a place that had embraced him and his family over the years.

“It was a truly emotional moment," shared Khan. “I told him that Afghanistan is proud of its cricketers and footballers, especially the young talents like him who are shining on the international stage. I also mentioned how much the love and recognition I have received from Assam have made it my home. He gifted me two tickets to the IPL match, which I will always cherish."

Despite the warm invitation from Khan to visit his home, Gurbaz, who was observing Roza (the Islamic month of fasting), politely declined, stating that he could not take up the offer due to his religious commitments. Khan, however, expressed his admiration for Gurbaz by kissing his hands, telling him, “You have made Afghanistan proud."

For Khan, the journey from Afghanistan to India was not an easy one.

Initially involved in money lending in his home country, he came to India in search of better opportunities. After traveling through various parts of India, he settled in Mirza, on the outskirts of Guwahati, in 1986. Khan married a local woman, Jahnara Begum, and started his family, creating roots in a land far from his own.

It was an especially poignant moment for Khan’s daughter Sahin, who had never met someone from Afghanistan before.

“It was a remarkable experience," she said. “I had the pleasure of sharing a piece of my heritage by gifting him Chaynak Tea’s Assam black tea and Darjeeling green tea. Given the deep connection Afghans have with green tea, it was heart-warming to see his genuine appreciation. He even mentioned that he would share it with his Afghan teammates, offering our Assam-origin brand a chance to reach tea enthusiasts worldwide."

As a token of his gratitude, Gurbaz gifted the Khan family two premium tickets to the IPL 2024 match between KKR and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Guwahati, a gesture that made the occasion even more memorable.

“It was a proud moment to showcase the richness of Assam tea and our brand, Chaynak Tea, on such a global platform," Sahin Khan added.

Gurbaz, who played a pivotal role in KKR’s victory during the 2024 IPL season, continues to be a key player for the team in 2025. The explosive Afghan batter was bought by KKR at his base price of Rs 2 crore.