Who Is Naushad Khan? Meet The Father Of Sarfaraz Khan, India's ...
No matter how talented you are, if you are born in a country with over 1.4 billion citizens, you have to wait for your time to come; if at all. Luckily for Sarfaraz Khan, his long wait has drawn to a close, and now it is his time to shine. On an emotional morning in Rajkot, India, all eyes were on Naushad Khan as he saw his eldest son don the traditional Indian Test cricket whites for the first time.
Years of hard work, dedication and sacrifices eventually paid off on 15 February 2024 when Sarfaraz Khan became the latest debutant for the men in blue with his family in attendance. The occasion became all the more memorable as he received his prized Test cap from the legendary Anil Kumble.
Hailing from the streets of Mumbai, Khan made the headlines 14 years back when he broke the record for the highest score in Harris Shield, an inter-school tournament (he scored 439 runs off 421 deliveries). In the process, he went past Sachin Tendulkar, often regarded as the ‘God of Cricket’. The youngster has not looked back since that day.
While he has featured for India in two ICC U-19 World Cups (in 2014 and 2016), getting a chance to represent the national side at the senior level is the biggest dream for any cricketer. Khan made full use of this opportunity as he played a fine knock of 62 runs on his maiden voyage before being run out in the most unfortunate manner. However, he received much praise for his performance by fans and pundits alike.
However, the youngster’s success story is incomplete without talking about his father. So, on that note, we bring you everything you need to know about Naushad Khan, Sarfaraz’s father, including his history, career and more.
Born in 1971, Naushad Khan, Sarfaraz Khan’s father, is an erstwhile cricketer who played for the Mumbai team in India’s domestic cricket circuit. He was a left-handed middle-order batsman and a slow left-hand orthodox spin bowler. However, he never attained great heights as a player.
After retiring as a player, Khan took up the mantle of coaching young cricketers. Mumbai is renowned for its school and club cricket culture, and there are numerous cricket coaching facilities across the city, Azad Maidan being one of the prime hubs. Khan chose this place to train youngsters.
Remember the ‘Rising Star’ of IPL 2011, Iqbal Abdulla? The former Kolkata Knight Riders player was one of the many players nurtured by Khan. Former IPL player Kamran Khan, who bowled the first-ever Super Over in the tournament’s history alongside Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis, was also trained by Naushad Khan in his cricketing infancy.
Naushad Khan has two sons — Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan. The eldest son has been a significant part of India’s domestic cricket landscape in contemporary times. He also holds the record for the most half-centuries in U-19 Cricket World Cups (seven fifties in two editions).
Sarfaraz Khan has featured in over 40 matches for Mumbai in first-class cricket and has scored over 3,600 runs. He has 14 centuries to his name with a best score of 301 not out. Khan made his debut in international cricket against England on 15 February 2024 in Rajkot.
On the other hand, Musheer Khan is still in his teenage years. Like his father, the youngster is an all-rounder who bears the slow left-arm orthodox spin bowling action. He made his maiden appearance for India in the ICC U-19 Men’s World Cup 2024. Khan became the only player to hit two or more centuries in the U-19 World Cup after Shikhar Dhawan and ended the tournament with 360 runs from seven matches.
To both Sarfaraz Khan and his brother Musheer Khan, Naushad Khan is not just a father — but also their coach. It was under his guidance that Sarfaraz Khan began his cricket training at a very tender age.
How did Naushad Khan react to his son’s debut for India? Picture Credits: Courtesy SARFARAZ KHAN/InstagramSeeing his eldest son don the Indian jersey was an emotional affair for Naushad Khan. The proud father, along with his wife, was in attendance at Rajkot as Sarfaraz Khan made his debut for the national team. In a memorable display, Sarfaraz Khan ran to his parents soon after receiving his Test cap from Anil Kumble and hugged them. A teary-eyed Naushad Khan also asked the Indian captain Rohit Sharma to take good care of his son.
A journey that is all heart ????????
Hear from a proud father on a very memorable day for Sarfaraz Khan ???? – By @ameyatilak#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/Imk7OTuSVM
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 15, 2024
However, none of these heartfelt displays of emotion would have taken place in Rajkot had it not been for the divine intervention of Suryakumar Yadav. Prior to the Test match between India and England, Yadav reached out to Khan and asked him to be present at the stadium when his son stepped out on the field for the first time in Indian colours.
“I do understand your emotions. But trust me, when I made my Test debut and was receiving my Test cap, my father and mother were just behind,” Yadav said in his message. “And that moment was something beyond special. These moments don’t come too often. So I would suggest that you must go.”
Naushad Khan was contemplating his presence on the ground during Sarfaraz Khan’s debut, as he felt that the youngster might feel an added pressure seeing his father in attendance. But the message from Yadav pushed him to keep everything aside and visit the stadium.
Is Naushad Khan a commentator?
It was a day of debuts for the Khan family. While Sarfaraz Khan made his debut as a cricketer for the Indian team, his father made his debut in the commentary box.
However, Naushad Khan is not a naturalised commentator. He joined former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra in the box after a special invite by the latter.
When Chopra asked Khan if he felt that his son had to wait a little too long to make his debut, the proud father gave a poetic response. “Give the night its due time to pass; the sun will rise in its own time,” Khan said.
(Main Image Credits: Courtesy BCCI; Featured Image Credits: Courtesy SARFARAZ KHAN/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)– What is the profession of Sarfaraz Khan’s father? Sarfaraz Khan’s father Naushad Khan is a cricket coach in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.
– Where was Sarfaraz Khan born? Sarfaraz Khan was born in Mumbai, India.
– Is Sarfaraz Khan’s father a cricketer? Sarfaraz Khan’s father is a former cricketer who played for Mumbai in the domestic circuit.
