Sarfaraz and Musheer: Two brothers, 7,625km apart, one scored a century for India A, the other for India colts in U-19 World Cup

Naushad Khan was flooded with congratulatory messages and calls the moment he switched on his phone after landing in Mumbai. His elder son, Sarfaraz, playing for India A, had scored a first-class century against England Lions in Ahmedabad, while 7,625km away at Bloemfontein, his younger one Musheer had scored a match-winning ton in India’s 201-run win over Ireland in the U-19 World Cup.

“There are 800 unseen messages on my WhatsApp. All of them are about Sarfaraz and Musheer. I will go home and reply to each one of them,” Naushad tells The Indian Express from Mumbai.

On Wednesday, Naushad was in Hyderabad for BCCI’s annual function to collect the Madhav Rao Scindia award for the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy. Sarfaraz was the tournament’s leading scorer with 982 runs. He has dominated India’s domestic circuit for the past three years but is still knocking on the doors of the Indian cricket team. Since 2020, he has scored more than 2,000 runs at an average of 82 but is yet to get an India call.

When asked what his son needs to do to get selected for India, Naushad smiles and says: “Just keep scoring runs.”

“I was not supposed to go for this award but since Sarfaraz had a match the next day, I had to. I am glad that I went to Hyderabad and the kind of compliments I have received about Sarfaraz has given me a confidence boost.

For his incredible century in the first-innings, Musheer Khan is adjudged the Player of the Match 👏👏#TeamIndia win by 201 runs 👌👌

Scorecard ▶️https://t.co/x26Ah72jqU#INDvIRE | #U19WorldCup pic.twitter.com/q398A5fBwd

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2024

“BCCI ne usey award diya aur mujhe yakeen hai BCCI usey Test cap bhi dega (BCCI has given him an award and I am sure they will give him a Test cap as well),” the proud father says.

Sarfaraz, who missed out on a century by four runs in the warm-up match against England Lions, and failed to convert his half-century in the first unofficial Test, hammered 161 off 160 balls, his first century for India A.

Musheer shows promise

In South Africa, the younger Khan, who has yet to deliver on the promise that he has shown in BCCI’s age-group competitions, scored his first century in U-19 cricket. Interestingly, Sarfaraz has a record of scoring seven fifty-plus total, the most in an U-19 World Cup, but never had a century.

At the post-match presentation, Musheer said he and his brother have a “similar style of batting.” They both are busy and love to score big. Musheer struggled in the opening match against Bangladesh but showed composure in the second. He completed his half-century in 66 balls and then changed gears to score the next 50 in just 34 balls.

“I hurried a bit for runs in the last match, so I gave myself some time in this match. I got the result,” he says.

Musheer hit four sixes in his knock, all of them in the second half of his knock. His favourite was the one over mid-wicket against medium pacer Oliver Riley. The shot got him going.

“Musheer is an opener. He has got a very calm head on his shoulders. He has got the best of both games. He can change gears as per situation and conditions,” says Naushad.

“I spoke to him after the Bangladesh match. He was in good nick but was just not able to get a big one. Now the monkey is off the back. To be honest, with VVS Laxman and Hrishikesh Kanitkar around him, I don’t need to tell him anything. He is in safe hands.”

Mumbai’s khadoos cricket

The Mumbai school of batting preaches filling one’s boots when the opportunity presents itself, not throwing one’s wicket away once in. That’s what Sarfaraz in Ahmedabad and Musheer in Bloemfontein showed.

Naushad gives credit to Mumbai’s cricketing system and BCCI’s structure for the growth of both his sons.

Naushad Khan received the award for his elder son Sarfaraz in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Sarfaraz won the Madhav Rai Scindia medal for the highest run-getter for the Ranji Trophy 2021-22 season. (Special arrangement)

“I have done my bit because they are my sons. But Mumbai cricket has played a bigger role in the development of their game. The khadoos cricketing culture of Mumbai has made them hungry for runs,” he says.

“In Mumbai, they are used to playing two-day and three-day games from a very young age and by the time they get to the NCA (National Cricket Academy), they are ready to play higher-level cricket. The BCCI’s structure is also so robust that if you work hard, you can dominate the tournaments consistently.

“There is a lot of cricket. They play U-14s, U-16s, U-19s, U-23s and then for the senior team. Not to forget all the different formats as well. A coach can work on the players but it is the structure that takes them to different levels,” explains Naushad.

Tour down memory lane

Naushad gets emotional while talking about his journey. Back in 2014, he had watched his eldest son Sarfaraz make his India U-19 debut with an eight-year-old Musheer on his lap. Almost a decade later, both his sons scored centuries on the same day but he couldn’t watch it. The India A match is not on television, while he was on a flight when Musheer reached the three-figure mark.

“I will watch their batting videos in the morning,” he laughs.

 

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Over the years, Naushad has spent hours dishing out throw-downs, and has travelled across the country with his sons just to play matches. He couldn’t help himself turning nostalgic while talking about the journey.

“Maine pehle hi bol diya tha unko achha baap chahiye ya achha coach (I have asked both of them at a very early age whether they want a father or a good coach),” he reminisces.

“I am a very punctual guy. For me, time is money. I get up early in the morning, I sleep on time. I avoid going to family functions. I have followed this routine for years now and the only reason is that in the morning they (his sons) shouldn’t miss their practice,” he says.

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Naushad says he has been told by many that sometimes he is too tough on his sons. “If they want to play for India, they will have to be strong-willed,” he says.

After an incredible couple of days, Naushad has a dream of watching both his sons playing for India.

“Inshallah, wo bhi hoga (God willing, it will also happen).”

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