Agha Faran Khan, 21 was brutally stabbed to death on Wednesday, November 18, in a park where he often practiced bowling. 

A graduate of Allen High School and a student at Collin County Community College, Faran played for Nortex Cricket Club in the North Texas Cricket Association, a cricket league based in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.

Pic (right): Agha Faran Khan of NorTex Patriots was brutally stabbed on November 18

Police say Richard Garrett Hughes, 18, and Jefferson Josue Medina-Diaz, 21, got into an argument with Agha Faran Khan over the use of the basketball court at the Ford Park.  It is believed that the argument turned into a fist fight before it ended in a tragic first degree murder.

“There were people in the area enjoying the parks when they heard an argument they went down to see what was going on and they found this young man lying on the ground and they called 911,” said Sgt. Nicole Shaw.

A good samaritan rushed to help 21-year-old Faran Khan at Ford Park early Wednesday evening and performed CPR until first responders arrived.   Faran Khan had a puncture wound from what turned out to be a tire iron.   Khan died later at a Plano hospital of the stab wounds.

On 20 November 2009,  Allen police arrested Richard Hughes, 18, and Jefferson Medina-Diaz, 21 in connection with Faran’s death.   The two are charged with felony first-degree murder and were each being held on a $200,000 bond.   Police are seeking further information about the incident and are asking anyone with additional details to call 214-509-4239 or 214-727-TIPS.

Condolences pour in

Friends and members of the cricket community at NorTex Cricket Club, the NTCA league, and USACA were deeply affected by Faran’s death.

Ahmed Jeddy, Regional Director of the USACA Central West Region noted that Faran wanted to become a professional cricketer - a dream that will remain unfulfilled.  “As a board member, a father and a cricket lover I am sad and over whelmed with this tragedy,” Mr. Jeddy wrote in a condolence message.  Mr. Jeddy commended the police for swift action and hoped that justice will be served soon.

USACA Secretary John Aaron, commenting on the brutal slaying of the young cricketer, said, “Our hearts go out to Faran’s family, as the entire cricket community mourns the loss of one of its own, in such  a horrific manner.”

First Vice President Nabeel Ahmed wrote, “I am extremely sorry and disturbed with the news that we have lost a young promising cricket star. I know the whole cricket community of Texas and the rest of the USA are very much saddened by this act of violence.”

One post on NorTex website noted that Faran Khan was extremely passionate about cricket and he would say "I want to bowl... I don't care if I don't get to bat."  He would go bowl every other day all by himself against a backstop in the park.

“All he wanted to do by practicing was add something to his team,” Faran’s friend Anik Islam wrote on the NorTex website. “Faran was the most dedicated and diligent player of NTCA.  I am very shocked to hear about this disgraceful incident.” 

Ashwin Shankar, who chairs NTCA Operations Committee and is a fellow cricketer wrote: “Faran used to regularly join us at our DCCC nets and was a very enthusiastic bowler. He used to bowl whenever given a chance and field during the rest of the time. He spoke little but was very couteous and well mannered.  We are all united in our prayers for his family to overcome this devastating loss.”

John Boaden, former President of NTCA wrote: “My sincere condolences to all who knew Faran and also of course to the Nortex CC.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this most traumatic of times.  Incidents like this truly reduce cricket and the game we all love to seeming not so important.”

A person calling himself JohnnyOz posted a comment which gives us an indication of Faran’s passion for cricket and his friendly personality: “I met the victim about 6 weeks ago at Ford park. He was practicing cricket, we got talking about the sport and he invited us to a game over in Plano. He seemed to be a great person who was very friendly. These two young men just ruined three lives.  Makes no sense.”

Editor’s Note:   On behalf of the DreamCricket.com team, I would like to convey our sincere and heart-felt condolences to Faran’s family, friends and to the North Texas cricket community.  November 18th is a sad day for all of us in USA cricket.