PAYNTR partners with Superstar Rashid Khan

Performance footwear and apparel brand PAYNTR is delighted to announce a three-and-a -half-year partnership with Rashid Khan, the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Decade.

The 22-year-old Afghan – who represents Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL), Adelaide Strikers (BBL), Lahore Qalandars (PSL), Band-e-Amir Dragons (Afghanistan), as well as Sussex Sharks in the Vitality T20 Blast and the Trent Rockets in the Hundred – has a truly global fanbase which was one of the many factors that drove the agreement.

‘We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Rashid who is a superstar of the sport, and someone who has a proven ability to dictate and disrupt the course of a match with his undoubted talent with both bat and ball,’ said David Paynter, founder of the brand and a former professional player with Yorkshire and Northamptonshire.

‘Since 2017, PAYNTR has strived to provide game-changing footwear for all aspects of cricket, raising the bar when it came to performance products that help athletes of all abilities perform at their best. To have Rashid on board is an incredible boost for everyone at the brand, and we look forward to working with him on all aspects of footwear development in the future,’ he added.

PAYNTR is fast developing a reputation in the cricket industry as a supporter of emerging talent with the #TEAMPAYNTR Junior Ambassador Programme, offering product discounts to help youngsters from all backgrounds to play the sport they love, and it was Rashid’s own story of succeeding against all odds that also made him the perfect player to partner with.

‘Rashid’s journey from humble beginnings to the top of the international game is a true inspiration to everyone in and outside of cricket, and we know he is an icon to millions of young players around the world, not only because of his ability to get fans out of their seats with his skillset, but also his values and work ethic,’ said Gavin Monk, PAYNTR’s Head of Brand.

Despite his relatively young age, the leg spinning all-rounder has already established himself as a key man for every franchise he represents, as well as Afghanistan, making his ODI debut in October 2015 – less than a month after turning 17, with his maiden appearance in the T20I side eight days later. In February 2018, Rashid became the youngest player to reach the ODI number one spot in the ICC Player Rankings, a feat he matched in the T20I division in the same month. In March, he became the youngest player to skipper an international side during the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. September 2018 saw Rashid rise to the top of the ICC’s all-rounder rankings and now, in all three formats of the international game, Rashid has 130 caps to his name. He also became the youngest Test match captain when he led Afghanistan against Bangladesh, aged 20 in September 2019.

‘I am extremely excited to join the PAYNTR brand. Having worn the shoes in competition for a while, I know the footwear’s comfort and style is excellent,’ said Rashid, who holds the record as the fastest player to reach 100 ODI wickets.

‘Speaking to David and learning more about where he wants to take the business was a major reason why I have entered into this partnership. We have very exciting news coming later in the summer, and I am thrilled to be working closely with R&D team at PAYNTR on a number of different projects,’ he added.