Amjad Khan wins PCA scholarship

Former Kent and England fast bowler Amjad Khan is one of the winners of this year’s Professional Cricketers’ Association Personal Development Scholarships.

The scholarships were introduced in 2013 to find and reward the most proactive members, past and present, on or off the pitch.

Khan and former Worcestershire spinner Shaaiq Choudhry were the winners of the Past Player Progression Personal Development Awards with Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale and Northamptonshire all rounder Steven Crook winning in the Current Players category and Warwickshire pair Richard Jones and Jonathon Webb in the Newcomers category.

All six will receive £1,000 towards Personal Development course funding, resources of their choice or to reimburse costs already incurred.

Khan, who retired in 2014, is still involved in cricket in his native Denmark where he is now in the second year of law degree at the Southern University of Denmark.

Khan has already used his legal knowledge to provide legal aid to help refugee children from Syria find their families and his enjoying his new career.

Khan, who took 347 first-class wicket, said: “I like to tell a good story. You hear about the different players who finish their careers and then struggle but, thanks to the PCA, I have a life that is equally as rewarding as being a professional cricketer.

“I hope my story can inspire some of the other players because life after cricket can be very tough.

“Academics has always been close to my heart and I always felt that if my cricket career wasn’t to develop I would go into that.”

Khan still has two years remaining of his law degree but he is already considering doing a Masters.

“I think if I could chose I would say definitely in the public sector. I think I’m a bit too old to become a judge but I would like to work within the courts or in the justice department.

“I can’t see myself being someone who argues in court, I would rather be the one who checks that the lawmakers do their job properly.”

Khan will use his Scholarship prize to help off-set the costs of his course which is already being part-funded by the PCA.

“I cannot give the PCA enough credit. They not only enabled and encouraged me but their guidance was priceless.

“In terms of studying there is a cost and the PCA have helped out with that. There was an injury issue when I decided to stop playing which they also helped with.

“Generally they have paved the way for my life after cricket and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the time that the PCA took in helping me.”

Ian Thomas, the former Glamorgan batsman who now leads the PCA's Personal Development and Welfare Programme, said: “The PCA Personal development Scholarship Awards have become an annual event in the calendar.

"With over 20 applications, we had a tough job shortlisting and we thank all members for their applications. Over 80% of players are now engaged in a Personal Development plan.

"These awards highlight the winners as ambassadors and will hopefully inspire others to take similar paths. The day provides the shortlisted candidate with the task to present on a set challenge and go through a rigorous interview process.

"Many congratulations to all six on their awards and to Jonathon Webb on the quality of his presentation. We look forward to more players applying in the future.”

The next PCA Personal Development Scholarship Awards application process will open in August 2016.