Aayan Khan, ILT20’s ‘awkward’ poster boy, on being dropped and bouncing back for UAE

Aayan Khan, the 20-year-old left-arm spinner, is the star of UAE cricket, featuring on marketing billboards during the DP World International League T20. At just 20, he became the youngest player ever to participate in a T20 World Cup and has since become a sought-after player in franchise cricket worldwide. However, his stellar career hit a snag when he was dropped from the national team last year.

Now, after 12 months away from the UAE team, Khan has returned when Haider Ali, the new first choice left-arm spinner, missed the tour of Scotland due to injury. In his recent interview, Khan reflected on his drop from the team and the importance of bouncing back. He emphasized that setbacks are a normal part of any athlete's journey and that he needed to work harder to regain his place in the team.

Khan's return to the national team was a positive moment for him, despite feeling awkward seeing his face plastered all over the walls of the UAE's T20 franchise league. His involvement in the league has led him to become a Red Bull athlete, further solidifying his star quality. Khan is currently in Dundee for the Cricket World Cup League Two tri-series and hopes to learn from some of his fellow players, including Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan. His primary goal is to contribute to his team's success in the upcoming series and tours.