It was an emotional morning in Rajkot for young Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan who made his Test debut in the IND vs ENG 3rd Test on Thursday, February 15.
Sarfaraz, who has been piling on runs for fun in first-class cricket since 2020, was finally rewarded for his consistent run as he received his Test cap. It was an emotional day for the Khan family as Sarfaraz’s father Naushad and cricketer’s wife couldn’t stop their tears.
But there was something special about Sarfaraz Khan’s jersey number that caught the attention. Sarfaraz Khan was wearing the number 97 on his back, the same number that his younger brother Musheer Khan had worn during the recently concluded U19 World Cup 2024.
The reason behind this choice is a touching tribute to their father, Naushad Khan, who has been their coach and mentor since childhood.
The number 97 is derived from the Hindi words for 9 and 7, which are “Nau” and “Saat” respectively. When combined, they form “Nausaat”, which sounds similar to “Naushad”. This is a way of expressing their gratitude and love for their father, who has always been their biggest supporter and inspiration.
Naushad Khan, a former Ranji Trophy player, has dedicated his life to nurturing the cricketing careers of his sons and made personal and financial sacrifices for their sake.
“Every coach and father has the belief that his son will one day play for the country. But the world believes only when he receives the cap. I never thought that it would always remain a dream. I knew that it would take time, have seen many. Some of them would get it early. Some would have to wait for long,” said Naushad after Sarfaraz’s debut.
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