KKR get Johan Botha, Azhar Mahmood as cover for Neesham and Lynn: IPL 8

KKR get Johan Botha, Azhar Mahmood as cover for Neesham and Lynn: IPL 8 :The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) before the start of the Indian Premier League season (IPL) 8 has announced multiple replacements in its squad picked in and out of the IPL Auction. The Kolkata franchise had picked James Neesham, Brad Hogg, Aditya Garhwal, Sumit Narwal, KC Cariappa, Vaibhav Rawal and Sheldon Jackson in the IPL 8 pre-season Auction is forced to replace James Neesham and Chris Lynn who has been a part of the team in the previous season as well.

Neesham who missed out from being a part of the New Zealand squad for the Cricket World Cup 2015 due to an undeclared injury is yet to get fit and the management does not believe he will be able to make it in time where as Lynn has been ruled out from cricket for another 10 months due to the hamstring injury he sustained in a Sheffield Shield match.

Veteran South African spinner Johan Botha and English cricketer Azhar Mahmood have been called in to replace the two.

Neesham was bought by KKR in the Auction for INR 50,00,000 Rs. Venky Mysore, the Chief Executive of the Kolkata Knight Riders is assured that the two replacements will fill in the vacant slots perfectly and said, “He (Botha) is the Shakib type of player, “Whenever Shakib is unavailable Botha fits in in with similar skills.”

It is also to be noted that Shakib Al Hasan will miss out considerable part of the IPL 8 against national duty. On his absence and the scenario arising out of it, Venky said, “He will play as many games as possible before and after the Pakistan tour, “BCB has been most cooperative with us and keeping mind the Pakistan schedule he will be allowed to play to the extent possible.”