Farhaan Behardien biography, parents, family, ethnicity, cricketer, religion, net worth

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<h2>Early Life and Domestic Career</h2>
<p>Farhaan Behardien was born in 1983 in Johannesburg, South Africa. His family later moved to Cape Town when he was five years old. He began making a name for himself in Centurion, primarily representing the Nashua Titans. Behardien made his List-A and first-class cricket debuts during the 2004–2005 domestic season. Known for his aggressive right-handed batting style, he also contributed as a useful military-medium bowler and an athletic fielder.</p>

<p>Early in his career, he spent time with amateur teams before joining the National Academy in 2006. It was here that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pybus">coach</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pybus">Richard Pybus</a> recognized his talent, leading to a professional contract with the Titans. Under coaches like Chris van <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noordwyk">Noordwyk</a>, his batting significantly improved, particularly in pressure situations where he often executed nerveless finishes.</p>

<h2>Breakthrough Performances and Domestic Recognition</h2>
<p>Behardien was a consistent <a href="/biography/farhaan-behardien">performer</a> in domestic limited-overs cricket, averaging 45.66 and an impressive 66.60 in T20 competitions. His standout performances made him the fourth-highest run-scorer in one of the T20 tournaments, earning him the South African T20 Player of the Year award in 2012. This accolade opened the door to national-level representation.</p>

<p>In 2009, he joined South Africa's Emerging Squad on a three-week tour of Australia and also represented South Africa in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament that year. During the final match against Hong Kong, he struck six successive deliveries for six and played a key role in securing victory. He also had a stint in England, playing for Bovey Tracey Cricket Club, where he served as both player and youth coach for the under-13 team.</p>

<h2>International Career Highlights</h2>
<p>Behardien made his T20 International debut for South Africa against India in 2012, scoring an unbeaten 20 off 11 deliveries. That same year, he was included in the squad for the ICC World Twenty20. His One Day International (ODI) debut followed in 2013, and he became a regular fixture in the limited-overs side through the mid-2010s.</p>

<p>In 2014, he registered a notable unbeaten 65-run innings in an ODI match. Although primarily used as a middle-order batsman who could fill in when needed, selectors showed continued faith in him by including him in the squad for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. He made a half-century against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the tournament. Often batting at number six or seven, the limited opportunities limited his growth at the international level.</p>

<h2>T20 Leadership and Global T20 League Appearance</h2>
<p>In January 2017, Behardien was named captain of South Africa’s T20I team for a three-match series against Sri Lanka, stepping in for several rested senior players. That same year, he was honored again as South Africa’s Domestic T20 Player of the Year. He was later selected by the Pretoria Mavericks for the inaugural season of the Global T20 League, a prominent step in South Africa’s domestic T20 competition landscape.</p>

<h2>Challenges at the International Level</h2>
<p>Despite his strong domestic track record, Behardien never fully translated that form to the international stage. His ODI performance saw him take over four years to surpass the 1,000-run mark, and his bowling contributions were minimal. Though not a genuine all-rounder, he consistently delivered solid performances in domestic formats—averaging nearly 40 in First-Class cricket and 37 in List-A over a 13-year career.</p>
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<h2>Finisher Role and Playing Style</h2>
<p>Behardien was often utilized as a finisher in both domestic and international formats, a role that brought its own pressures. While playing for the Titans, he consistently delivered crucial middle-order performances, helping the team secure the MiWay T20 title. His dependable performances drew the attention of national selectors, including then national <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Kirsten">coach</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Kirsten">Gary Kirsten</a>.</p>

<p>He once remarked on the conditions during a match: “Last time we played here, we made 170 and Sri Lanka chased it. We had a few dropped catches, and the wind was a bit swirling. I reckon between 160 and 180 will be the ideal score. The ball might swing a bit, as it is a 6 pm start.” He showed experience in adapting to pitch conditions and situational tactics, understanding that fields and weather could heavily influence outcomes.</p>

<h2>Background and Personal Life</h2>
<p>Behardien is of South Asian descent—reports suggest possible Pakistani or Indian ancestry. He is a practicing Muslim, part of a group of Muslim athletes in South African cricket, which includes notable names like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashim_Amla">Hashim Amla</a>, <a href="/biography/imran-tahir">Imran Tahir</a>, and <a href="/biography/wayne-parnell">Wayne Parnell</a> (a <a href="/biography/wayne-parnell">convert</a> from Christianity). This personal identity, though not central to his cricketing career, has occasionally been highlighted in public discourse.</p>

<h2>Later Years and Legacy</h2>
<p>Although always regarded as a reliable squad member, Behardien remained on the fringes of the South African line-up. Notably, he was part of the 15-man squad for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy but did not feature in any matches. His international appearances became more sporadic in the late 2010s.</p>

<p>A late bloomer, Behardien’s peak years came in the 2011–2012 seasons, nearly seven years after his debut. By then, his performances in short formats had earned him respect domestically and brief prominence on the international stage. While he never truly established himself as an international stalwart, his contributions to South African domestic cricket remain significant. Each opportunity he receives continues to serve as a testament to his perseverance and skill set.</p>

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