Dubai: Khurram Khan stamped his mark as the evergreen hero of UAE cricket on November 30 when he became the oldest cricketer to hit a century in One Day Internationals.
The UAE captain, who was instrumental in the UAE gaining One-day status as well as clinching a place in the 2015 ICC World Cup and ICC Twenty20 World Cup, broke the record of Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya with an unbeaten 132 in the second match of the ongoing one-day series against Afghanistan.
At 43 years and 162 days, Khurram broke a five-year-old record of Jayasuriya, who hit a century at the age of 39 and 221 days against India at Dambulla on January 28, 2009.
Khurram’s ton steered UAE to a six-wicket win with 10 balls to spare, despite having to chase Afghanistan’s whopping total of 280 for eight. It was UAE’s second successive victory having beaten Afghanistan in the first One-day match by five wickets. In that match too, Khurram cracked 53 to help UAE chase down Afghanistan’s total of 248 for 6 with eight balls to spare.
Khurram now ranks topmost on a list of the world’s greatest cricketers who have defied their age to score centuries. The list includes Geoff Boycott and Sachin Tendulkar, who hit centuries at the age of 39 and Sunil Gavaskar and Desmond Haynes who scored centuries at 38. Gordon Greenidge, Mohinder Amarnath and Mahela Jayawardene all scored centuries at 37.
Speaking to Gulf News, Khurram said: “I consider this honour as a reward to my dedication and hard work. To be able to do it and clinch a place among the greats is because I have always put in my full effort every time I played this game.”
Khurram, who can be mistaken for a cricketer in his thirties due to his fitness, refused to take the credit for his achievement. “I don’t think I could have kept scoring runs but for the support of my coach Aquib Javed, who drilled in the importance of fitness ever since he started coaching us. Mudassar Nazar joining our team as the batting coach is another factor. Peter Kelly, who joined our team as strength and conditioning trainer, has also contributed immensely.
“Former England captain Paul Collingwood, who was here to strengthen our fielding too taught us a lot about the importance of fitness. All these have made everyone fitter and that is being reflected in the results,” said Khurram.
When asked whether he feels younger each time he hits a half-century or a century, Khurram said: “You do feel convinced that you are fitter. I keep scoring not by doing anything special or out of the way but strongly sticking to the basics,” he said.
Khurram is happy with his personal form but happier over his team’s improving performances and the fact that they are no 2-0 up in the four-match series against Afghanistan. “We have recorded two impressive victories over Afghanistan, which is a tough associate country and it is a big confidence booster ahead of the World Cup,” said Khurram, who works a flight purser with Emirates airline and, despite having to fly to different parts of the world, makes sure to hit the gym of his hotel on arrival in any country.
