Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders had to make two changes to their squad a few days before the 2015 season of Indian Premier League due to injury of Jimmy Neesham and Chris Lynn.
Veteran cricket player Azhar Mahmood has entered the side while Johan Botha Neesham brought to Lynn.
During Sheffield Sheild game against Queensland South Australia, Lynn suffered a hamstring injury that has caused the next season of IPL is lost. He was held by KKR, but now must give way to South Africa ATVs, Botha. The 32-year-old experienced activist was purchased by its base price, INR 1,00,00,000.
New Zealand all-rounder, Neesham also had to withdraw from the eighth edition of T20 tournament due to injury. He has apologized to his fans on twitter for failing to participate in the upcoming season of the T20 league. His replacement, Mahmood, was included in the squad for the base price of INR 50,00,000. The England-based terrain played for Kings XI Punjab earlier and brings with him a lot of experience in the field of KKR.
Kolkata Knight Riders, defending champions have recruited Azhar Mahmood and Johan Botha as replacements for the injured couple James and Chris Lynn Neesham for this IPL season starting on April 8.
Neesham, who failed to make the World Cup squad in New Zealand, has not regained the match fitness after injury unspecified. He had played four games of Delhi Daredevils in 2014, was released and later bought by Knight Riders for Rs 50 lakh during the auction in February.
Lynn was ruled out for 10 weeks after muscle injury Sheffield Shield earlier this month. The record for the fastest fifty in the Big Bash League was called and finished ninth in the charts with 243 runs at a strike rate of 148.17. His season began class with a shoulder concern, but were buried during a double century against Victoria in Brisbane. Shaped behind him, Lynn could have filled the vacancy left by Jacques Kallis, who retired from all forms of game last year.
Venky Mysore, the Knight Riders chief executive, admitted losing Lynn and Neesham was intrusive, but confident that Mahmood and Botha excel.
The vast experience Mahmood – who has played 213 T20 – and knowledge of Indian conditions worked in his favor. He played two seasons with the Kings XI Punjab IPL – 2012 and 2013 – and made 382 runs at a strike rate of 129.05. In 22 games, he has also taken 29 grounds in a economy rate of 7.61.
Botha, who played three seasons with Rajasthan Royals and then turned to reckless in 2013, was chosen by the coach Trevor Bayliss as cover for SUV Shakib Al Hasan, who will miss part of the IPL due to national commitments from Bangladesh are scheduled based Pakistan since April 15.
