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Following a decade and a half since his debut, England’s seasoned bowler could be forgiven for feeling exhausted by the non-stop cricket circuit. Now in New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he describes that busy, routine existence when talking about the group-connecting brief holiday in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “At times, these moments are scarce during endless tours,” he says. “Touch down, drill, perform, and journey.”

However, his passion is obvious, not merely when he reflects on the immediate future of a team that appears to be thriving with Harry Brook and his personal role within it, plus when seeing Rashid drill, perform, or spin. Although he managed to halt New Zealand’s progress as they attempted to chase down England’s record‑breaking 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, no action can prevent the passage of time.

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In February, Rashid hits the age of 38, halfway into the T20 World Cup. Once the following 50-over World Cup is held in late 2027 he will be nearly 40. His longtime friend and present podcast colleague Moeen Ali, just a few months his senior, ended his international cricket career last year. Yet Rashid stays crucial: that four-wicket performance raised his annual count to 19, six ahead of any other England player. Merely three English cricketers have achieved such T20 international wickets in a single year: Swann in 2010, Curran in 2022, and Rashid across 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. Yet there are no considerations of retirement; his attention stays on defeating rivals, not closing his career.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the hunger to play for England and represent my country,” Rashid says. “From my view, that’s the greatest success in all sports. I still have that passion there for England. I think that when the passion does die down, or whatever it is, then you reflect: ‘Okay, time to genuinely evaluate it’. Right now, I’ve not considered other options. I’ve got that passion, there’s a lot of cricket to be played.

“I want to be part of this team, this squad we’ve got now, on the next journey we have, which ought to be rewarding and I intend to contribute. With luck, we can achieve victories and secure World Cups, all the positive outcomes. And I’m looking forward to hopefully participating in that journey.

“We are unaware of what will occur. Just ahead, situations can shift rapidly. Life and the sport are immensely volatile. I always like to stay present – a game at a time, a step at a time – and allow events to develop, observe where cricket and existence lead me.”

From several perspectives, this isn’t the moment to consider conclusions, but rather of beginnings: a fresh team with a new captain, a new coach and new horizons. “We are embarked on that path,” Rashid notes. “A handful of fresh members exist. Some have departed, some have joined, and that’s simply part of the rotation. But we’ve got experience, we’ve got youth, we include elite performers, we’ve got Brendon McCullum, who’s a very, very good coach, and each person supports our objectives. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s inherent to the sport, but we are surely dedicated and completely prepared, for any coming events.”

The desire to schedule that Queenstown trip, and the appointment of previous All Blacks mindset trainer Gilbert Enoka, suggests there is a particular focus on creating something more from this group of players than just an XI. and Rashid believes this is a particular strength of McCullum’s.

“We feel like a unit,” he conveys. “We feel like a family kind of environment, backing each other regardless of whether you perform or don’t perform, you have a good day or a bad day. We strive to confirm we follow our ethics in that manner. 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 atmosphere Baz and we aim to establish, and we have developed. And hopefully we can, regardless of whether we have a good day or a bad day.

“Baz is very composed, laid-back, but he’s on the ball in terms of coaching, he’s on it in that sense. And he desires to foster that setting. Certainly, we are at ease, we are cool, but we’re making sure that when we go on that pitch we’re focused and we’re going for it. Significant acknowledgment is due to Baz for building that milieu, and ideally, we can sustain that for an extended period.”