Ali Khan is set to become the first cricketer from the US to feature in the Indian Premier League after the Pakistan-born pacer joined the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the season that begins on Saturday.
Khan, 29, has been signed as a replacement for Harry Gurney with the England seamer requiring surgery on a shoulder injury that will rule him out of this year's IPL tournament, to be played in the UAE, and England's T20 Blast.
Should he be picked in any of Kolkata's matches, Pakistan-born Khan will become the first player from the to United States to feature in the world's most lucrative Twenty20 competition.
The right-arm quick made a mark for Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League this season, where he finished with eight wickets from eight games at an economy of 7.43 to help his team win the title. The CPL team has the same parent company as Kolkata.
Khan is known to bowl over 140kph with a slingy action and operates in the death overs, with the ability to nail the yorker.
The right-arm bowler was spotted at the 2018 Global T20 Canada by West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who brought him to the CPL. Khan also played a key role in the US gaining ODI status at the World Cricket League Division Two event in Namibia last year.
