This past week the world of cricket said goodbye to one its most loyal servants.
– Twitter’s best #KhurramKhanFacts
– GALLERY: Sangakkara to Kohli: Top Ten Test Batsmen
– INTERVIEW: Waqar Younis – PAK on verge of charting new course
– #360cricket: Kieswetter’s retirement shows no compromise on safety
At the ripe old age of 43 (and two weeks shy of his 44th birthday), Khurram Khan brought to an end a 14-year association with the UAE, leaving behind a gaping hole in the country’s middle-order and a legacy that will live long in the annuls of UAE and associate cricket.
A rather meagre-looking 16 full ODIs is tempered by the fact the UAE has only played 24 since making their ODI debut back in 1994.
UAE Champion Khurram Khan retires pic.twitter.com/4bPI2lCZCA
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) June 5, 2015
With 582 runs to his name at an average of 41.57, three half centuries and having become the oldest ODI centurion in history last November – a stylish 132 not out against Afghanistan breaking the record – Khan’s stats begin to justify his legacy as one of international cricket’s greatest amateurs.
Twelve wickets with his twirlers isn’t too bad going either for the Multan-born Pakistani who has called the UAE home since January 1996.
Once UAE needed 12 runs off 1 ball. Khurram Khan hit the ball so hard, it split into two and both pieces went for six. #KhurramKhanFacts
— Acharya Anurag (@anuragach) February 18, 2015
In a modern era where anyone remotely South African can pull on an England shirt, things were much tougher for Khan when he first had trials to become a UAE player.
As the ICC attempted to strike a balance between local and expat players at international level, the likes of Khan, the UAE and associate nations aiming to keep up with the Test playing nations all suffered.
“I remember going to the camp when I hadn’t been selected and there were almost 60-70 people at the nets,” Khan recalls to Sport360. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, there were only two slots available because expatriates had to be living in the UAE for more than four years and that was my only chance. In that category there were a minimum 40 people trying to get in so it was really, really hard.
“After getting into the team it was huge relief because that was the first time I was able to make it to the team and the first tour was wonderful for me.
“I think I took 19 wickets and scored 250 runs at an average of above 60 so it was an amazing tour for me and it set up the tone for me being selected for the UAE in the future.”
In the eight games Khan played on that tour of Canada, his 243 runs (sorry Khurram!), came at 60.75 (you’re welcome!) and, from there, he never looked back.
Captaincy followed just three years later, after taking 4-32 against Sri Lanka in only his second full ODI. It was a role that he held with pride for the majority of the following 11 years until being harshly stripped of the job weeks before the start of the 2014 World T20 tournament in favour of Emirati Mohammad Tauqir.
Not that Khan is one to hold grudges, far from it. He sees every moment in the grey and black colours of the UAE as a blessing.
“I think if you asked me if I had a chance again, I’d do it all over again,” he beams. “I’m very happy and very satisfied with my career. Finally I managed to qualify for a World Cup which is what I always dreamt of with the UAE. When I got out in my last game and walked off people had tears in their eyes so I think that’s enough that [your team-mates] loved you as a person, a big brother and a captain.
“The captaincy, having done so much for the country, I wanted to continue but it was never meant to be, life goes one. Yes, I was hurt but I’m happy to have played the World Cup and been one of the players that helped us get there. The captaincy was an honour but I was happy that one of the locals got it. You have to move on.
“I took these colours with pride. The sad thing is I won’t be able to wear these colours again in my life. I always respected it because they gave me the chance to play international cricket which I couldn’t do in my own country.”
UAE’s Khurram Khan, the oldest player to score an ODI ton, retires from international cricket. http://t.co/XeiUP4IvJK pic.twitter.com/d6qTTXMd5R
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 5, 2015
Modest words that would not be echoed by UAE coach and former Pakistan seamer Aaqib Javed, who believes his recently retired star-man could’ve featured for his country of birth had he not sought work abroad.
While Khan’s efforts on the pitch have undoubtedly set the standard for generations to come, it is this modesty and his charming personality that amazes as much as his elegance at the wicket.
Besides captaining his adopted country through qualification to their first World T20 tournament and second appearance at a World Cup, Khan’s commitment to the cause is unrivalled.
A balancing act between work as an Emirates Airline purser and heart and soul of the UAE’s batting order, combined with his passion for the sport and affable demeanour make him the player that every young cricketer hoping to one day play for the UAE, nay play international cricket, should look up to.
Elite level sport is all about sacrifices, from diet to time, something Khan knows all too well.
“I think what the ICC and international teams have to realise is that a lot of [associate] players are making a huge effort and sacrifices to play,” says Khan. “I remember landing from Australia, landing from the USA and after one or two hours going to the ground [to play].
“It’s not easy and most people wouldn’t be able to do it but since I’ve been doing this job for a very long time that was the only way out.
“I remember once that I landed after a ten hour flight and drove from Dubai to Abu Dhabi stadium in a match that was televised live and I had to play the game. So, it’s not easy but I’m happy that I managed.”
Not only did Khan manage, he excelled.
#UAE Coach Javed on Khurram Khan: “He’s been a stand-out player in Associate cricket.” http://t.co/UjI46mhR8d pic.twitter.com/cGnTi3ND9w
— Sport360° (@Sport360) June 5, 2015
Working in fitness schedules sent to him by the UAE team while travelling for days, even weeks at a time, Khan remains in prime physical shape even now. Balancing full-time work, a fitness plan, practice in the nets (let alone the middle), while remaining an international cricketer – it hurts body and mind just contemplating it.
“If you are my age you have to be fitter and you have to try and do more than anyone else is doing. As long as you are there and doing the fitness and the regime you are good. As soon as you stay away a little bit you can’t just go again and meet those standards so obviously when I wasn’t in the UAE I always used to be in contact with [Chitrala] Sudhaker and Peter [Kelly] who always gave me a plan to follow.
“I was away 1-2 weeks every month so I was not coming to the camps and not doing practices so whenever I came back to the UAE I had to do my fitness tests and that definitely helped me.”
No one else could do that and that’s just one of many #KhurramKhanFacts.
That hashtag encapsulated the warm feeling felt by the cricketing world the moment Khan landed in Australia and New Zealand at the ICC World Cup as an elder statesman of a plucky UAE side speaking positively of their chances.
A tale of staring out at the MCG and not entering its walls until he had earned his spot in the middle endeared him even more to a public lapping up the feel-good nature of a story already well-known in the UAE.
The Guiness book of records this year has got a picture of Khurram Khan on it. He has all the records. #KhurramKhanFacts
— justin smyth (@justinsmyth1) February 18, 2015
Khan was amused by the trending hashtag being attributed to his name and is hugely appreciative for the outpouring of well wishes and support he has received since hanging up his boots.
“I really, really enjoyed [#KhurramKhanFacts]. My wife would send me them every now and then and say ‘look at that one!’ She laughed as well and you understand you’re not the youngest and people will make jokes and I really, really liked it.
“It feels very overwhelming to be honest, the support I received. A massive thanks to everyone that supported my career. The day I retired, the response I got was immense and I wasn’t expecting that. It was kind of shocking. Since I’ve been playing [international] cricket over the last 14 years, it’s a very long career for the associates.
Thanks Khurram Khan. Absolute hero #KhurramKhanfacts
— Tim (@timwig_cricket) June 5, 2015
“Not many players manage that long and especially after qualifying for the World T20 and World Cup, we got a lot of recognition as a team and people started recognising me. Lots of people said it was a shock that I left but at my age it’s not a shock. I was just waiting for the proper timing.”
Having been resoundingly beaten by Ireland in their opening Intercontinental Cup fixture, the timing was indeed right and his career had only been prolonged post-World Cup after please from Javed to have one more crack at the longer form of the game.
Their most experienced and dedicated cricketer, the Emirates Cricket Board should take heed of Khan’s calls for more longer-form cricket to maintain the incredible heights they have reached over the last 18 months.
“We have reached the top and to now stay there is very important. There are a couple of things that I’m not too happy about and have spoken to the board about.
“There are many T20 tournaments in the UAE but if we want to go further we need to play the longer version. We don’t play four-day cricket and the last one we played before Ireland was one and a half years ago.
“I think that’s the only way forward now, that and playing ‘A’ tournaments against Pakistan, Sri Lanka… England are always here and Under-18s as well so more quality cricket is the way to go.”
As for Khan, its back to work for the UAE’s most prolific cricketer (talks with the board have been held about a future coaching role), something he openly admits will take some getting used to.
“Going back to work was a different feeling. Now I’ve realised I’m not going to play again. There was always a tournament coming up or practices to get fitter for and do well at but now I’ve realised there’s no going back. It’s going to take some time getting used to but I’ll learn how to live with it.
“On Sunday, I was on standby from 2am-6am on standby, sitting at the airport but there was no flight for me so I had to just turn around and head home.”
With UAE cricket in such rude health, one has to hope it doesn’t also hang around in the departure lounge before turning heel and heading backwards.
It will be trickier without Khan driving the team forward but his spirit, work ethic and passion should serve as a constant reminder for every player, coach and administrator that nothing but your best effort will do.
And that’s a #KhurramKhanFact.
