Shakib Al Hasan, an all-rounder from Bangladesh who the Kolkata Knight Riders purchased in the auction, has been ruled out from the IPL 2023. Shakib has informed the Kolkata Knight Riders team that he will not be able to participate this year. His absence from the league’s opening week is reportedly due to personal and international obligations.
Before Saturday’s opening match against the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2023, the Bangladesh T20I captain was anticipated to arrive in Mohali and join the KKR team. Nonetheless, the 36-year-old was selected for tomorrow’s opening Test against Ireland.
Contrary to rumours that he had been released, Shakib (36), who was acquired by the team for a base price of Rs 1.5 crore, is said to have called the KKR management and sought to be excused for the season. To be clear, a player cannot be released by a franchise after being bought in an auction. It is only possible after a season.
KKR squad is suffering from players’ absence
The other international players for KKR without Shakib include David Wiese, Lockie Ferguson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Tim Southee. KKR is already playing without their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer in this IPL.
Player absences have already hurt the team; full-time captain Shreyas Iyer will be sidelined for at least the first half of the season owing to a back issue.
The Knight Riders have only played one game so far this season, which they lost against the Punjab Kings in Mohali because of the weather. On Thursday in Kolkata, they will host Royal Challengers Bangalore for their following game.
Shreyas Iyer is likely to be available in IPL 2023
With the possibility that team captain Shreyas Iyer may be able to play in several IPL games, Kolkata Knight Riders have received good news regarding injuries. In an effort to make a comeback for the World Test Championship Final, Iyer reported to the National Cricket Academy on Wednesday.
It should be mentioned that Iyer has declined surgery for his chronic back pain because he would have had to miss at least six months of work. On June 7, the commencement of the WTC Final, he aims to be available for selection.
Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2023
Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Narayan Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson (hamstring injury), Shreyas Iyer (back injury).
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