Regardless of dropping 17 kilos, Sarfaraz Khan didn’t discover a place in India’s Take a look at squad for the tour of England. This was after he had travelled to Australia final yr for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Since making his Take a look at debut for India final yr, Sarfaraz’s numbers are pretty respectable – 371 runs from six matches at a median of 37.10, together with one century. Nonetheless, the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI choice committee deemed him unworthy to fit him within the 15 for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The rejection, nevertheless, has not fazed Sarfaraz. After scoring an excellent 92 for India A in opposition to India Lions in Might, the 27-year-old has determined to tug off one thing very unorthodox by collaborating within the Kanga League, one thing that not many worldwide cricketers from Mumbai have carried out within the current previous.
The Kanga League is a event performed through the Mumbai monsoons, principally between July and October. The overcast circumstances and moisture-heavy pitches make it troublesome for the batters to attain runs. However not Sarfaraz. Representing the Parkophone Cricketers, Sarfaraz performed a wonderful knock of 61 from 42 balls in opposition to Islam Gymkhana. Actually, so decided was Sarfaraz that he reached the bottom half an hour early to make sure he was forward of the competitors.
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Kanga League’s historical past has been cherished for many years. The who’s who of Mumbai cricket, together with Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Sandeep Patil, and Dilip Vengsarkar, amongst many, proudly performed the event each time they’d time again within the day. Taking inspiration from these legends, Sarfaraz is raring to make a mark and show a degree as he pushes for his comeback into the Indian Take a look at crew.
“Throughout my childhood, I heard quite a lot of tales from my father [coach Naushad Khan] about how Sunil Gavaskar sir as soon as turned up for a Kanga League match regardless of coming back from England the identical morning. So, Musheer [younger brother] and I’ve at all times taken delight in enjoying this event. Whereas coming back from Nagpur final night [Saturday], we have been hoping it would not rain at present. It rained a bit this morning, however once I reached Islam Gymkhana, the climate was good. I performed my final Kanga League match three years in the past. I used to be going via the league fixture ebook earlier than this sport and noticed my identify in it for scoring a century in 2018 and it felt good,” Sarfaraz advised Mid-day.
Sarfaraz Khan takes inspiration from Mumbai greats
It has been near a yr now since Sarfaraz final performed for India. After scoring 150 in opposition to New Zealand in Bengaluru final October, Sarfaraz performed simply two extra Checks earlier than he was dropped from the Enjoying XI. His street again to the Take a look at crew will not be simple, given the lengthy queue of kids knocking on the door, however with India’s subsequent two Take a look at assignments being at house in opposition to West Indies and South Africa, there’s scope in any case. Emphasising the significance of the event, Sarfaraz insists extra Mumbai gamers ought to flip up for the Kanga League.
“All Mumbai gamers ought to play [Kanga League]. Some gamers really feel that in the event that they fail right here, it’ll be unhealthy for his or her future. But when Gavaskar sir and Sachin Tendulkar sir thought the identical method, they may not have gone on to develop into legends. If massive gamers play on this event, it will likely be an inspiration for the town’s children. Kanga League is such a event that if you happen to succeed right here, you possibly can rating runs anyplace on the planet,” he identified.
