Mohammad Irfan may get IPL contract with KKR
Pakistan’s domestic bowler, Mohammad Irfan has got into a deal with the IPL team of Kolkata Knight Riders to represent them in the fourth season of the tournament. However, this deal will depend on whether the BCCI approves it. Irfan had almost been selected for the Pakistan side in the ICC World T20 in 2010, as a replacement for Umar Gul, but the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board had chosen someone else instead.
Irfan’s claim to fame is his height, which has been measured 6'8", 6'10" and 7'1" on different occasions, making him possibly the tallest ever cricketer to have played first class cricket. He was selected by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-c64444 has yet to play international cricket and hence can be signed on by any team without being put into the auction bag.
However, given the political situation between the two countries, India and Pakistan, the tall pace bowler hasn’t yet got the contract. What the two parties have signed is only an MoU, which will be converted into a contract once the BCCI allows that to happen.
It may not be as simple though. In the previous edition of the IPL, none of the Pakistani cricketers had been signed up by the IPL franchises, on fears that the Indian government may not allow the cricketers to play in India. In the 2009 edition of the tournament, the Pakistani government had not allowed any Pakistani cricketer to go to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to play the IPL either.
It has been reported that Irfan’s deal could be for a sum of $75,000, and he will be paid $2000 for every game that he plays. Apart from that, he will need an NOC from the PCB and the Pakistani government.
Irfan started playing first class cricket in the previous season at the age of 27 after being spotted by Aaquib Javed, a former Pakistani fast bowler. In the ten games that he played, he scalped 43 wickets, and was soon tipped to play in the ICC World T20 in 2010 as a replacement for Umar Gul. However, the PCB head, Ejaz Butt rejected his selection and sent in someone else in his place.
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