Ali Khan is a Pakistan-born USA cricketer. The right-arm fast-medium bowler is known for his ability to take wickets with his sheer pace, swing and precise yorkers. His teammates in the USA cricket team have nicknamed him as “Yorker-Machine” for his ability to launch toe-crushing yorkers at will. He can consistently hit the speed at a speed of over 140 kph. In 2020, he became the first US national to earn an IPL contract.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Ali Khan was born on Thursday, 13 December 1990, in Attock, Punjab, Pakistan. His full name is Muhammad Ahsan Ali Khan. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. At the age of 19, in 2010, Ali Khan and his family moved to the USA and settled in Dayton, Ohio. By then, he had left behind the idea of making a career in cricket, as international cricket was non-existent in the USA at that time. He worked in a cellular company in Dayton and simultaneously played cricket at the local level. Gradually, he climbed the ladder from playing local club cricket in the USA to playing in big cricket leagues across the world.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 11″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Ali Khan was born into a Muslim family of Pakistan.
Parents and Siblings
As of now, there is no information available about his parents. Ali Khan has an elder brother with whom he grew up playing cricket.
Relationships & Children
As of 2020, Ali Khan is unmarried.
Career
For the first few years in the USA, Ali Khan played for the local club; however, professional cricket was still a distant dream for him. Ali Khan got his first break in 2015, when he passed the trials and secured a place in the 15-men squad of ICC Americas Team (a combined team comprising players from all the regions of America) to play in the NAGICO Regional Super50 tournament held in West Indies in 2016. Ali Khan embarked on his professional cricketing career in January 2016, playing for “ICC Americas” team against Jamaica. Impressed by his performance with the ball, he earned a contract with the Guyana Amazon Warriors to play in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2016. He made a dream debut in the CPL as he dismissed the Sri Lankan legendary cricketer, Kumar Sangakkara on the very first ball that he bowled. Consequently, he was included in the USA selection camp for the 2016 ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament held in October. However, then came a huge setback in his rising career when he suffered a hamstring injury during a training session. The injury kept him out of action for 8-10 months. He could not take part in the 2016 ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament for the USA and also lost his contract with the Guyana Amazon Warriors for CPL 2017. After recovering from the injury, he made a strong comeback in the 2018 US Open T20 tournament held in Florida. He then got a chance to play in the Canada Global T20 league 2018 for Winnipeg Hawks. The same year he made a comeback in the CPL after earning a contract with Shah Rukh Khan‘s Trinbago Knight Riders. Ali picked 16 wickets in the tournament and his brilliant bowling was instrumental in TKR’s success as they ended up winning the CPL 2018 title.
Thereafter, Ali played in several other cricket leagues across the world, including Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Bangladesh Super Leauge (BSL). He left a trail of impactful bowling wherever he played. After showing his magic in various T20 cricket leagues across the world, finally, in April 2019, Ali made his international debut playing for his national team, USA. He took a five-wicket haul on his debut match against Papua New Guinea and helped his team clinch the victory, that helped the USA Cricket Team to earn their long-awaited ODI status.
In September 2020, Ali Khan was included in the KKR squad for Dream11 IPL 2020 as a replacement for England fast-bowler, Harry Gurney, who opted out of IPL 2020 owing to a shoulder injury.
We have touchdown! 🛬
Our newest Knight, @IamAlikhan23, is in the house! 🤩#KKRHaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/M8DcozaLy5
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) September 13, 2020
Controversies
Ali Khan featured in a Trinidadian singer Destra Garcia’s video song, “Me Gusta.” released in November 2020. His appearance disappointed some of his fans on the social media, who claimed that video contained sexually suggestive dance moves and also showed sensual scenes between the people of different cultures (i.e. Ali Khan and Destra). [1]Global Voices
Later, Khan issued an apology video message saying his intention was not to hurt people of his culture and urged his fans to move on. He also said his scenes with Destra Garcia in the video song also disappointed some people from his family, for which he has apologised to them. [2]loopycanman.com
Achievements
He earned a place in ICC’s “the breakout stars” (men) list of 2018. [3]ICC
In 2019, he was selected named in the list of ESPNcricinfo’s associate bowling performer 2019. [4]ESPNcricinfo.com
In 2020, he became the first American cricketer to get an IPL contract. [5]The Hindustan Times
Facts/Trivia
- Ali Khan grew up playing tape ball cricket in Pakistan.
- While growing up, Ali Khan used to watch and admire legendary fast bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, and Brett Lee.
References
| ↑1 | Global Voices |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | loopycanman.com |
| ↑3 | ICC |
| ↑4 | ESPNcricinfo.com |
| ↑5 | The Hindustan Times |
