UAE spinner Aayan Khan ready to build on lessons learnt in Canada's GT20

Sharjah teenager rubbed shoulders with cricket superstars playing for Montreal Tigers

The UAE's Aayan Khan bowls for Montreal Tigers in the GT20 against Brampton Wolves at the TD Cricket Arena on July 30, 2024. Focus Sports / GT20

Having already amassed two years’ worth of international experience as well as tasting success in T20 franchise leagues on opposite sides of the world, it feels remarkable that Aayan Khan is still only 18.

The UAE whizzkid’s ascent to senior cricket has been almost entirely seamless, so the fact he experienced a rare dropped stitch on Sunday was noteworthy.

For once, a team including Aayan failed to win a T20 final. His Montreal Tigers side were defending their title at the GT20 Canada in Brampton, Ohio.

He had been central to their win in the tournament 12 months earlier, as well as in their march to the top of the standings in the regular season this time, too.

But then they were beaten by eight wickets in the decider against Toronto Nationals, for whom Junaid Siddique, Aayan’s UAE teammate, shone.

Despite missing out on another winner’s medal, Aayan was sanguine about the experience in Canada.

“It has been really good to be a part of another final and being table toppers shows what a great franchise we are,” Aayan said ahead of his flight back to Dubai.

“Winning and losing is a part of the game, and it was just not our day. We had really good league games, won most of them so we were confident but just couldn’t get over the line.

“I’m proud of my team. It’s an honour to be a part of this great franchise and bunch of superstars who worked hard and gave it our all.”

Even though he does not turn 19 until November, playing alongside stars of the world game in franchise cricket is beginning to feel like standard practice for Aayan.

Fortunately for UAE cricket, he is not the only one: his national team colleagues like Junaid, Zahoor Khan and Muhammad Waseem were also involved in the GT20.

The competition in Canada included the likes of David Warner, Marcus Stoinis, Sherfane Rutherford and Shakib Al Hasan.

And Aayan was again captained by Chris Lynn, the Australian batter whom he played alongside when winning last year’s GT20, as well as the first International League T20 with Gulf Giants.

The Goa-born teenager says he has learnt much from a player whom he says treats him “like a little brother”.

Aayan Khan of Montreal Tigers celebrates a wicket against Bangla Tigers Mississauga in the GT20. Focus Sports / GT20

“I have been with him for some franchises now and spending time with him has made me more mature on and off the field,” Aayan said of Lynn.

“One specific thing he tells me is always believe in myself, which is really important, and has helped me a lot to be calm in pressure situations.

“He has helped me a lot on the field by letting me know where to bowl in different conditions. It is such a great experience for me to be with him – he is a really good person to be with.

“It is nice to play alongside him, win tournaments with him, and hopefully there are many more to come.”

After returning from Canada, the UAE contingent’s next assignment will be a return to international duty.

After the faltering start they made with three defeats in a home series involving Scotland and Canada, the national team will bid to revive their Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign next month.

They will tour Namibia for a one-day international tri-series, which also involves the USA, starting in mid-September.

Later in the year they are also set to feature in the Emerging Nations Cup in Oman. That is a T20 competition also involving Hong Kong and Oman, as well as the A teams of Asia’s five Test-playing nations.

Aayan Khan of Montreal Tigers celebrates after taking a wicket against Vancouver Knights in Canada's GT20 league. Focus Sports / GT20

For his part, Aayan will enter those series equipped with more experience of rubbing shoulders with the stars of the game – as well as some fond memories of thriving against them.

Although the young left-armer is renowned for his youthful innocence, he has for a role model one of the sport’s more controversial characters.

It makes sense that an aspiring left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder would choose Shakib as his hero. The Bangladesh great does, though, have a penchant for controversy, as shown in the final stages of the tournament on Canada.

Bangla Tigers Mississauga were knocked out of the competition after they forfeited their eliminator to Toronto Nationals.

Rain meant no play was possible in that game. As the clock ticked towards the cut-off time, the match officials decided only a Super Over could be played, as per the playing regulations.

But Shakib, the Bangla Tigers captain, didn't turn up at the toss for the Super Over in protest.

The controversy will not cloud Aayan’s favourite moment of the GT20, though, when he dismissed Shakib earlier in the tournament.

“It is such a big thing for me,” Aayan said. “Last season I was playing alongside him, and he is a big role model for me as one of the best all-rounders and left-arm spinners in the world.

“I follow him a lot. He is a superstar and has played so many leagues and made records, so my favourite memory is to get him out.”