Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: March 05, 2021 | 
Sohail Khan during the recent PSL Tournament
Cricket has been woven into Pakistan’s social fabric in such an intense and intimate manner that has made it quite impossible to separate Pakistan from the sport. While it is safe to say that many consider themselves to be experts who are passionate about the sport, Sohail Khan is a particularly unique cricket fan and commentator. Visually impaired, he not only has the ability to memorise cricket statistics for well-established international players but also keeps up with performances of relatively unknown domestic Pakistani players, making predictions for their future trajectories.
Apart from being a cricket stats wizard, Khan is a radio jockey and a man who has made it his life’s mission to not let his visual impairment get in the way of his big dreams. “I love cricket, I follow it closely, remember and retain all the statistics about it that I can find. But I won’t take credit for my strong memory, it was a gift I was born with,” Khan told Youlin.
(L to R) Russle Arnold, Sohail Khan and Danny Morisson
Talking about his love for cricket, Khan stated, “I am a 90’s kid, in those days there was a huge craze for FM radio and our family only had Pakistan Television (PTV). So whenever Pakistan was playing cricket matches, they used to be covered live on radio and PTV. We used to follow live matches religiously, and that’s where my interest developed too. As time passed, I learned the names of all the players and their particular playing styles. I remember that we had a cassette player that I used to record the name of 100 Pakistani cricketers. It doesn’t sound impressive in this day and age, but back then when we barely had any technology, it was a huge accomplishment.”
Khan revealed that while growing up, cricket was only one of his two biggest passions, the other was listening to music from the 90’s. “It was truly the country’s musical golden era, in which the best music was created.” Through radio, he found and became connected to two things that gave his life meaning, and it inspired him to become a Radio Jockey himself, to reach out to people with similar interests.
(L to R) Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sohail Khan and Muhammad Hafeez
He went on to elaborate how he started work as a sport radio jockey, the passion for both cricket and radio quite evident in his voice. “I would often call up the radio channel to chat and inevitably the conversation would turn to cricket. Time passed and then in 2016, I got a call from FM101, and they asked me to come and be a part of their Asia Cup Transmission. Mind you, this was merely 5 hours before the whole thing had to start. I was in shock, but I went nonetheless, and that’s how I became a sports radio jockey.”
Sohail Khan with Shahid Afridi
“After five years and a few radio channels, I have now been recognised by PCB for my talent, which is a great achievement for me. Whether it’s been domestic matches or international tournaments, I have not missed a single match that took place at the National Stadium of Karachi, since I first developed my interest in the sport. That is why this recognition means so much to me. All my life, I made sure that my disability never overshadowed my passion and drive. For the longest time, I did not tell my listeners that I was blind. I kept doing my radio show and once I had made a name for myself, I decided to tell the listeners that I could not see.”
Sohail Khan with Ahmed Shehzad
Sohail says that he broke out of the stereotypes associated with blindness at an early age, “I am not the type of person that sits in a corner, doesn’t mingle with people and is dependent on others. I have always been someone who loves being in a crowd and interacting with people, I like to enjoy the moment, have a good time, and I do not think my impairment can stop me.”
When asked about his future plans, Khan replied. “There are many things I can do in life but I do not like to make elaborate plans for the future. Perhaps, one day I would like to write a book or take my content online. But for now, I enjoy being a radio jockey and connecting with my listeners the old fashioned way.” Sohail Khan’s story serves to inspire and encourage people to pursue their dreams despite personal obstacles.
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