‘I still have 100% passion’: England’s evergreen Rashid is not finished yet

After over 16 seasons from his first appearance, the veteran spinner could be forgiven for feeling exhausted by the global cricket grind. Presently touring New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he summarises that busy, routine existence as he mentions the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “Occasionally, such chances are rare when constantly traveling,” he remarks. “Touch down, drill, perform, and journey.”

However, his passion is obvious, not just when he discusses the immediate future of a team that appears to be thriving guided by Harry Brook and his individual spot on it, plus when seeing Rashid drill, perform, or spin. Although he managed to halt New Zealand’s progress as they aimed to overhaul England’s monumental 236 at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch on Monday night, when his four‑wicket haul included all but one of their five highest scorers, he cannot do anything to stop time.

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In February, Rashid hits the age of 38, halfway into the T20 World Cup. When the next ODI World Cup occurs near the end of 2027 he’ll be approaching 40. His close pal and current podcast partner Moeen Ali, just a few months his senior, retired from international cricket last year. Yet Rashid stays crucial: those four wickets took him to 19 so far this year, six ahead of any other England player. Merely three English cricketers have achieved such T20 international wickets in a single year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, plus Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But no plans exist for conclusion; his attention stays on defeating rivals, not closing his career.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the craving to feature for England and symbolize my nation,” Rashid says. “As an individual, I think that’s the biggest achievement in any sport. That fervor for England persists within me. I think that when the passion does die down, or whatever it is, that’s the moment you consider: ‘Alright, let’s seriously ponder it’. Currently, I haven’t contemplated anything different. I hold that drive, and much cricket remains.

“I want to be part of this team, this squad we’ve got now, along the forthcoming path we tread, which should be pleasant and I wish to participate. Hopefully we can experience some wins and win World Cups, all the good stuff. And I’m looking forward to hopefully participating in that journey.

“We cannot predict future events. Around the corner things can change very quickly. Life and the sport are immensely volatile. I aim to keep focused on the now – each game separately, each phase gradually – and allow events to develop, observe where cricket and existence lead me.”

In many ways this is no time to be thinking of endings, but rather of beginnings: a novel squad with a different skipper, a different coach and fresh prospects. “We have begun that voyage,” Rashid comments. “A handful of fresh members exist. Some have departed, some have joined, and that’s merely part of the process. But we’ve got experience, we’ve got youth, we feature top-tier cricketers, we’ve got Brendon McCullum, who’s a very, very good coach, and everybody’s buying in to what we’re trying to achieve. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s typical in cricket, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for any coming events.”

The wish to arrange that Queenstown visit, and the recruitment of the former All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka, indicates a special emphasis on building extra from this team beyond a playing eleven. and Rashid thinks this is a unique talent of McCullum’s.

“We feel like a unit,” he says. “We enjoy a family-like setting, supporting one another irrespective of performance, whether your day is positive or negative. We attempt to ensure we adhere to our principles thus. Let’s make sure we stick together, that unity we have, that brotherhood.

“It’s a wonderful attribute, all members support one another and that’s the culture Baz and we seek to form, and we have developed. And hopefully we can, regardless of whether we have a good day or a bad day.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, but he’s on the ball in terms of coaching, he is diligent in that regard. And he wants to create that environment. Certainly, we are at ease, we are cool, but we confirm that when we step onto the ground we are attentive and we are giving our all. Much praise belongs to Baz for forming that atmosphere, and hopefully we can carry that on for a lot longer.”