Azhar's son to try out for Kolkata Knight Riders

THE BIG DIFFERENCE: Azhar junior is left-handed and likes to hit the ball really hard.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• I took calculated risks for higher growth: Pranab  

• Udayan's View: Budget 2009, a game of patience 

• A study in comparison: Education budget up Rs 7K cr 

• Face The Budget: Political response to Budget 09-10 

• The verdict: CNN-IBN panelists rate Pranab's Budget  

• Reform hopes dashed, market watchers feel let down  

• I-T exemption limit raised | FBT rolled back | Taxes and you 

• Pranab skips two paras of Budget speech, apologises 

• Bengal benefits, Mamata and Pranab budget for their state 

• Income tax limits raised; farmers, exporters get sops 

• Watch: Dalal Street reacts to the Budget 

• Budget: Pranab's chance to create his own legacy 

• FM has done a fairly good job: Narayana Murthy 

• Budget to focus on social spend, growth 

• Education reform will be for all Indians: Sibal 

• The Budget That Isn't: Cyrus gears up for Budget 

• EVMs are tamper proof, says Election Commission 

• Watch: Railway exams disrupted in Mysore, Banglaore 

• Watch: Maneka writes to PM over threat to Varun's life 

• One-upmanship: Sonia, Pawar in foodgrain politics 

• Life saving drugs, LCDs cheaper; Set-top-box costlier 

• Buy that big car: SUVs, petrol trucks to cost less 

• Defence budget unchanged; Army gets lion's share 

• Minimum Rs 30 lakh needed to be called wealthy 

• TAX BREAKS, WELFARE SCHEMES IN COMMON MAN'S BUDGET 

• Common man gets a treat, over 15 schemes 

• Health budget up by Rs 4,000 cr, 6 new AIIMS in cities 

• Bengal benefits, Mamata and Pranab budget for their state 

• Full text: Union Budget 2009 

• Software industry gets tax benefits for one more yr 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Kolkata: It's a familiar stage for 18-year-old Mohammad Asaduddin . The Eden Gardens in Kolkata was former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin's happiest hunting ground. And today, his son is turning out for the trials of Kolkata Knight Riders, eager to make his mark in the game that took father to super-stardom.

Asaduddin says, "Dad has always been my coach. He gives me tips and all whenever I need it. Whenever I need batting tips from him, he is always there for me. I actually don't feel any pressure. I just have to go on the pitch and play my natural game."

But though his father played a big role in shaping his cricketing skills, there's one major difference. Azhar junior is left-handed and likes to hit the ball really hard.

"I am playing T20 for the first time, but I am very confident because I am an attacking batsman. This format of the game really suits me," says he.

Asaduddin hasn't yet played first class cricket, but he has been making waves in club cricket in Hyderabad. This year he has scored four half centuries in six games.

"He's a young player and has still got a lot to learn, but his attitude was good out there and that gives him a good chance. Obviously he is of reasonable pedigree so if he is willing to learn and improve, who knows where he can go," says Kolkata Knight Riders' coach, John Buchanan.

Azharuddin was one of Indian cricket's most romantic stories. From humble beginnings, he reached the top and then ended in disgrace. For Asaduddin growing out of his famous father's shadow would be the real test.