NEW DELHI: The story of Sarfaraz Khan's struggles and hard work has moved everyone. India rewarded 26-year-old Sarfaraz for his outstanding form in domestic cricket with a debut in the third Test against England in Rajkot on Thursday.
Sarfaraz received his Test cap from former captain Anil Kumble as his teary-eyed father Naushad Khan and his wife looked on.
And Sarfaraz made his Test debut a memorable one by hitting a quick 62-run knock of 66 before being run out.
Sarfaraz knocked on selectors' doors for over three years scoring in the Ranji Trophy and has a first-class average of over 69 in 45 matches and a best of 301 not out.
Sarfaraz came into limelight in school cricket in 2009 with a record 439, but his career later faced obstacles and controversies.
Naushad Khan always advised Sarfaraz to work hard, have confidence and be patient even though he was repeatedly ignored by the voters.
Sarfaraz scored countless runs in domestic cricket year after year before getting his first call-up ahead of the second Test in Vizag and finally making his debut in Rajkot.
Moved by the hard work of the father-son duo, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra shared a video released by the BCCI in which Naushad Khan says that the Sarfaraz case proves that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
“Earlier, when I worked a lot hard (at Sarfaraz), I always thought that was the reason why my dream didn’t come true. But after getting the testing cap, my thoughts changed for all working kids.”
“Raat ko waqt do guzarne ke liye, suraj apne hi samay pe niklega (Give time for the night to end, the sun will rise in its own time),” said Naushad.
Anand Mahindra, who is known to gift his company's SUVs to promising sportspersons who have made it to the top from scratch thanks to their hard work and perseverance, expressed his desire to gift a Thar SUV to Sarfaraz Khan's father Naushad Khan .
Anand Mahindra shared the BCCI video and posted, “Himmat nahin chodna, bas! Hard work if Naushad Khan would accept the gift of a Thar.”
Sarfaraz received his Test cap from former captain Anil Kumble as his teary-eyed father Naushad Khan and his wife looked on.
And Sarfaraz made his Test debut a memorable one by hitting a quick 62-run knock of 66 before being run out.
Sarfaraz knocked on selectors' doors for over three years scoring in the Ranji Trophy and has a first-class average of over 69 in 45 matches and a best of 301 not out.
Sarfaraz came into limelight in school cricket in 2009 with a record 439, but his career later faced obstacles and controversies.
Naushad Khan always advised Sarfaraz to work hard, have confidence and be patient even though he was repeatedly ignored by the voters.
Sarfaraz scored countless runs in domestic cricket year after year before getting his first call-up ahead of the second Test in Vizag and finally making his debut in Rajkot.
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“Earlier, when I worked a lot hard (at Sarfaraz), I always thought that was the reason why my dream didn’t come true. But after getting the testing cap, my thoughts changed for all working kids.”
“Raat ko waqt do guzarne ke liye, suraj apne hi samay pe niklega (Give time for the night to end, the sun will rise in its own time),” said Naushad.
Anand Mahindra, who is known to gift his company's SUVs to promising sportspersons who have made it to the top from scratch thanks to their hard work and perseverance, expressed his desire to gift a Thar SUV to Sarfaraz Khan's father Naushad Khan .
Anand Mahindra shared the BCCI video and posted, “Himmat nahin chodna, bas! Hard work if Naushad Khan would accept the gift of a Thar.”
