IPL 2019: Hazratullah Zazai attends Kings XI Punjab trials ahead of the auction

The auction for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to take place on December 18 in Jaipur. The teams are now busy shortlisting the names who they want to pick in the team in a bid to win the title next year. Even the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) are doing the same as they will be keen on replacing some of the released players. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s explosive batsman Hazratullah Zazai was spotted at the trials of the franchise last week which suggests they might pick him in the auction.

The newly appointed coach of the team Mike Hesson was seen jotting down the points during the trials and they must have finalised some names by now. It will be interesting to see if the man who hit six sixes in a single over in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) earlier this year will be picked by the franchise. He also smashed a 36-ball 75 for the Maratha Arabians in the ongoing T10 League.

Smart Pick?

Hazratullah Zazai could well turn out to be a smart pick from the KXIP as they have released some of the top players keeping the World Cup availability in mind. He will be available for the whole season despite the fact that even Afghanistan is part of the World Cup. Moreover, his heroics with the bat are well known to everyone and his association with Chris Gayle will be a dream to watch.

Also, KXIP have four overseas slots yet to be filled and with Rs 36.20 Crore still left in their purse, even if a bidding war starts for the Afghan star, the franchise will have an option to go all the way for him.

Earlier this month, they released as many as 12 players from their line-up and are now left with only 10 players. They will have to build a team once again and it will be interesting to see if they go for some of the stars in the shortest format.

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