Kamran Khan joins Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals

Meet Kamran Khan, the tennis-ball cricketer with no first-class experience, but who may soon shine for Rajasthan Royals

Kamran Khan joins Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals

Meet Kamran Khan, the tennis-ball cricketer with no first-class experience, but who may soon shine for Rajasthan Royals

Mohammad Kamran Khan's mother's only wish was to see her son on television, playing cricket.

But when he could be all set to grace the big stage in the Indian Premier League (IPL), his mother is not alive to see it. The 18-year-old rookie left-arm speedster from Azamgarh signed a Rs 12 lakh contract with IPL champions Rajasthan Royals, late on Sunday evening.

Kamran came to Mumbai with his coach Naushad Khan five years ago but left a couple of years later when his father expired. "It was tough to leave my mother alone. More than my father, it was my mother who wanted me to play top-level cricket. She always wished to see me on TV. Now that I am so close to fulfilling her wish, she isn't there to watch me," added Kamran, whose mother passed away a year after his father's demise.

No first-class
An astonishing fact is Kamran earned this contract without playing a first-class match. "He used to practice with us but he never played any season cricket. He was basically a tennis ball cricketer. I introduced him in a Talim Shield match a few months ago and he really impressed me with his batting. He blasted 60 odd runs in some 20 balls," explained Naushad.

"I requested Iqbal Khan to give him a chance in the Police squad in D Y Patil's T20 tournament. Darren Berry (director of Rajasthan Royals coaching), who was present there, asked Kamran to come for Royals' practice matches. He took seven wickets in three matches with economical average and got selected for them."
Naushad made arrangements to accomodate Kamran in Kurla. "I knew he had the spark. I'm happy his efforts are paying off."

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels