Imran Khan is hoping to fire Houghton Main to promotion this season while also beginning a relationship between the club and Afghan cricketers.
The 21-year-old grew up in Afghanistan then moved to England in 2015. After two years playing for a club in Manchester, he moved to Sheffield and was recruited for Houghton by team-mate Biswick Kapala. He has taken 51 wickets which is the most of any player in the nine South Yorkshire League divisions, while Main are in the second promotion place.
Khan said: "It's been good at Houghton Main. They are all good lads and I enjoy every match. I am very happy to be taking wickets and hopefully I can finish high up in the list for the league. As a team, we want to get promotion which would be a really good achievement."
Afghan cricket has flourished recently with the one day side regularly reaching World Cups and shocking more established nations while they made their Test Match debut against India this year. Houghton are currently in discussions with Riaz Hassan, the highly-rated captain of Afghanistan under 19s, to join as the club's overseas player next season and play alongside Khan.
Khan said: "He wants to come to Houghton Main so hopefully he will join me next year. Cricket is much better is Afghanistan now and they are doing really well. But I see my future in England and I want to play for England."
His immediate focus is on Houghton's promotion challenge, which could see them join the ECB Yorkshire Premier South alongside Barnsley Woolley CC. Last season they narrowly avoided relegation.
Captain Michael Brown said: "We're all enjoying it. We got some good wins early doors and it's snowballed. It's a big contrast from last year and it shows you how quickly things can change. Imran has done really well. He has helped us get going in the right direction and challenge for promotion."It would be great if it could be the start of a good relationship with Afghan cricketers at this club."
Houghton stayed in the second promotion place with a win at local rivals Wath on Saturday. Ian Simon (54) and Andrew Haupt (84 not out) led Houghton to 227 for three then Wath were bowled out for 190 with Kapala taking four wickets and Khan three. Harvey Wootton made 60 for Wath.
