IPL 2020: 5 things you need to know about KKR's latest signing Ali Khan

Ali Khan will play for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020

2-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders have added an American player to their squad for the first time ahead of IPL 2020. The Shahrukh Khan-owned franchise signed Ali Khan to replace Harry Gurney. The English pace bowler opted out of IPL 2020 because of a shoulder injury.

Ali Khan was a part of the Trinbago Knight Riders team that won the recently-concluded Caribbean Premier League in the West Indies. The right-arm quick bowler returned with figures of 2/25 in the final match against St Lucia Zouks, scalping the crucial wicket of Rahkeem Cornwall.

Since he plays international cricket for the USA team, fans may not know much about the 29-year-old. Here are the five things that the cricket universe needs to know about Ali Khan before IPL 2020.

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5. Ali Khan is the first American to earn an IPL contract

Over the last 13 years, IPL franchises have signed players from all over the world. However, not a single player from the American team could earn the elusive IPL deal until Kolkata Knight Riders signed Ali Khan. It is noteworthy that Delhi Capitals made history a few years ago by signing Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

This move helped them gain fans in Nepal. It will be interesting to see if signing an American player helps the Kolkata-based IPL franchise build its fan-base in the USA.

Also see: IPL Orange Cap

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4. IPL 2020 will not be the first time Ali Khan will play in the UAE

Ali Khan has been a part of the Abu Dhabi T10 League in the past. He was a part of Zaheer Khan's team, Delhi Bulls, in the 2019 edition. Besides, he also played against Yuvraj Singh in the Global T20 Canada League last year.

Speaking of his performance in the T10 League, Khan has played eight T10 games in his career, scalping nine wickets and his best figures being 2/15.

The American fast bowler grabbed eyeballs by bowling a double-wicket maiden in the T10 competition in 2019. Since Abu Dhabi will host many matches of IPL 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders may look to include Ali Khan in their playing XI.

3. Ali Khan was born in Punjab, Pakistan

Ali Khan celebrates a wicket against St. Lucia Zouks in CPL 2019

Ali Khan was born on 13th December 1990 in Attock, Punjab, Pakistan. The right-arm fast bowler's family moved to Ohio when he was 18. Subsequently, he started playing for the composite Americas team in a regional 50-overs competition.

Khan is not the only Pakistan-born player participating in IPL 2020 as Chennai Super Kings' right-arm leg-spinner Imran Tahir was also born in Pakistan. Besides, former Pakistan cricketer Azhar Mahmood also played in the IPL after the BCCI barred Pakistani players from playing in the league. Mahmood played for Kings XI Punjab under a British passport.

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2. ICC named him in one of the top five breakout stars of 2018

ICC announced a list of breakout stars of the cricket world in 2018, where Ali Khan found his name alongside Prithvi Shaw, Sam Curran, Shimron Hetmyer, and Mohammad Abbas. Shaw, Curran, and Hetmyer have already made their IPL debuts, while Ali Khan is likely to earn his maiden IPL cap in IPL 2020.

Kolkata Knight Riders invested a tremendous amount of money in Pat Cummins, and Ali Khan could back him up in the pace department just like Harry Gurney was supposed to do.

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1. IPL 2020's newest player has played one ODI match

Ali Khan has majorly played in the domestic T20 leagues worldwide, but he has also played international cricket for the USA. In April 2019, Khan donned the USA jersey in a one-day international fixture against Papua New Guinea. He bowled five overs in the match and returned with figures of 1/23. Unfortunately, the USA lost that match by five wickets.

The main reason why Kolkata Knight Riders roped him in for IPL 2020 is his T20 record and experience. Khan has been a part of the Caribbean Premier League, Global T20 Canada, Abu Dhabi T10 League, Bangladesh Premier League, Afghanistan Premier League, and Pakistan Super League.

With 38 wickets to his name in 36 T20 matches, Khan will look to bring his 'A' game to the table in IPL 2020 and establish himself as a match-winner for KKR.