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

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

As we wave goodbye to 2018, take a look at five men who were the breakout stars on the global stage over the past year. Who impressed you most?➡️ https://t.co/2CHetNelTw#BestOf2018 pic.twitter.com/eR64eD4eum

— ICC (@ICC) January 1, 2019

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.