Ranji Trophy: Sarfaraz Khan set for UP debut

MORADABAD: It's a risk not many parents would dare to take. To make your talented son quit a champion team like Mumbai and make him play for Uttar Pradesh. Azamgarh-born Naushad Khan, himself a recognised coach, has taken so many promising UP lads to Mumbai for a career. Hence, it came as a big surprise, when he made his highly talented son Sarfaraz quit Mumbai and join UP for the 2015-2016 domestic season. Only time will tell if the move was right and whether it would benefit Sarfaraz's career.
There is no doubting that Sarfaraz is a special talent. Last season he played three Ranji and a few List A matches for Mumbai and achieved moderate success. However, he was the cynosure of all eyes during his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore during the last IPL season.That is when he got noticed and also earned plenty of praise from RCB captain Virat Kohli, who rates him as one of the emerging talents in the country.
The good thing for him though is the confidence that the UP think-tank have in him. They are ready to blood the diminutive but stocky batsman right away and are also willing to give him a long rope. UP's chief coach Rizwan Shamshad is a fan of this talented lad. "Don't go by his small built and baby face. He has a large heart. He is a talented player as he has shown in the IPL. Yes, we know that Ranji Trophy is a different ball game and his temperament will be tested to the hilt. But then if he wants to make it to the big league, he has to grab the opportunity and show his temperament in the longer version."