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Former teammates mourn the passing of former U19 spinner Rafik Khan
Young England 1980 team that engaged Guyana Under-19’s at GCC Bourda.
Kaieteur Sports – The Guyanese cricket fraternity has been plunged into mourning following the passing of former national Under-19 leg-spinner Rafik Khan, who died on August 23 at his Florida home at the age of 62.
Khan, who proudly represented Guyana between 1979 and 1983, is remembered not only as a talented leg-spinner but also as a beloved teammate, ardent cricket supporter, and friend to many in the game.
His passing has left a void felt deeply by the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), his former teammates, and legends of the sport, including former West Indies captain Roger Harper, who expressed shock and sorrow at the devastating news.
Khan made his mark on the regional stage when he debuted for Guyana’s Under-19 side in August 1979 against Trinidad at Bourda under the captaincy of Jerry Angus. A few months later, in January 1980, he was included in the Orin Samuels-led squad that hosted England’s Under-19s, again at Bourda.
That same year, in July, he toured Barbados with the Roger Harper-led Guyana youth team for the regional championship. In a memorable moment that still resonates with those who witnessed it, Khan and Harper combined to share all 10 wickets in Barbados’ first innings, which eventually became one of the fondest memories of his cricketing career.
Rafik Khan
Khan’s journey with the national youth side continued into 1981 under the leadership of Deonarine Persaud and again in 1982, when he played in Trinidad under the captaincy of Andrew Jackman.
From the very outset, Khan announced himself as a bowler of real promise. On his debut against Trinidad in 1979, he claimed 4 for 38 from 16 overs to help dismiss the opposition for 132. He followed this up with a devastating spell against the Leeward Islands, returning figures of 5 for 19 from 18 overs, before adding two more wickets in the second innings to finish with seven in the match. His performances powered Guyana to a commanding win and a place in the final against Jamaica.
In the Benson & Hedges final, Khan again impressed, taking 4 for 104 from 30 overs in Jamaica’s only innings. Despite Guyana’s loss on first-innings points, Khan finished as the team’s leading bowler in his debut series, claiming 15 scalps and establishing himself as a rising force in regional youth cricket.
Off the field, Khan never lost his love for the game. He remained a dedicated supporter of both hardball and softball cricket, frequently lending his encouragement to the sport locally and abroad.
In a statement, members of the Demerara Cricket Club paid tribute: “Condolences go out to his wife and children, his extended family and friends during this time of bereavement. He will be remembered not just as a fine leg-spinner but as a brother, a friend and a lover of the game. May his soul rest in peace.”
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