Pakistan-born fast bowler, Ali Khan is the first player from the United States to join the Indian Premier League after being included in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad.

Khan replaces England’s Harry Gurney, who due to a shoulder injury was sidelined in the Knight Riders team for the Twenty20 tournament starting Saturday in the United Arab Emirates.

Knight Riders chief executive Venky Mysore on Twitter wrote: “Welcome to the #KKRfamily @IamAlikhan23 ! Enjoy @IPL & the experience. Tough luck @gurneyhf . Get well soon. You will be missed.”

Gurney, a left-arm quick who has played 10 ODIs and two T20 internationals, pulled out of the IPL and England’s T20 Blast due to surgery on his shoulder while Khan comes into the IPL after winning the Caribbean Premier League with the Trinbago Knight Riders.

The right-armer was spotted at the 2018 Global T20 Canada by West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who brought him to the CPL.

The 29 year-old Khan played a key role in the US gaining ODI status at the World Cricket League Division Two event in Namibia last year.