A two-time winner on Asian Tour, Rashid, who was tied sixth at Hero Indian Open in his last appearance on either the Asian or European Tours, had four birdies against three bogeys on a rather wind-swept day at the Four Seasons golf club.
The sole leader was Andrew Dodt, who mastered the windy conditions, to take the lead with a six-under 66 on a day when only 21 players came under par.
Chiragh Kumar, sharing a room with Shiv Kapur at Long Beach, which is 30 minutes away from Anahita, was tied sixth with a steady two-under 70 that included two birdies on his last four holes, the sixth and the ninth, after he started on the 10th.
Jyoti Randhawa who was two-under through first seven holes was still the same after 17 holes, before he hit disaster with a triple bogey on par-5 18th and finished at one-over.
Jeev Milkha Singh, who is staying at the venue and has brought his family to the resort, rallied from a quadruple bogey to shoot 73, as did Rahil Gangjee, Himmat Rai and Randhawa and all were tied 36th.
Rashid had birdies on first, third, eighth, 10th and 11th and again on 13th and 15th. His bogeys came on sixth, 12th and 18th holes.
Rashid was quite happy despite the closing bogey.
"I am very delighted with how I played. It was really windy when I played my practice rounds earlier this week and I wasn't expecting to shoot a good round when I started out today. I started with two birdies in my opening three holes and that gave me some confidence heading into the round," he said.