Mohammad Irfan to play for Kolkata http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Knight-c71599 Riders in IPL 4
Pakistan’s tall fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been picked by Shahrukh Khan’s Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Irfan will take part in the 4th season of IPL in 2011; his agreement though is still pending as it is yet to be approved by Board of Cricket Control of India.
The lanky fast bowler made his name in his first season of domestic cricket in Pakistan, and almost made it into the national squad for the T-20 world championship.
Irfan is believed to be one of the tallest bowlers in world cricket; he is almost 7 feet tall. He was with the Kolkata team on a development tour to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and was referred to Kolkata by team manager Wasim Akram. The former Pakistan captain had long been an admirer of the left arm bowler and has said that the young man can be a long term player for Pakistan.
Irfan has not played for Pakistan yet, so he will not have to go through the player auction process and will be signed directly by the franchise.
While talking to a newspaper, Irfan confirmed that he has signed a deal with KKR for the 4th season of IPL. He said that the Kolkata team had called him up for a development tour in Sri Lanka. He added that he is very pleased that his idol http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292 recommended him to KKR. On the tour the team played against several players from the Sri Lankan national team and A side.
Though the agreement is almost done, but still it is believed that it has all been agreed by word of mouth. The fast bowler will put pen to paper only after BCCI gives it all clear. Even though the approval by the Indian board is believed to be a formality, but still it may turn out to be more complicated than anticipated. Last year in the 3rd season of IPL none of the Pakistani players were picked in the IPL auction, which stirred up a huge controversy. Lalit Modi, who at the time was, the IPL chairman had said that no such problems will be there for Pakistani players in the 4th edition. Earlier in the first season of IPL many of Pakistan players were recruited by several teams. Nevertheless after that the political ties between Pakistan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board decided not to allow their players to travel to India for IPL. However in recent times things have improved to a certain degree between the two neighbours and Pakistan players are expected to be a part of IPL 4.
However if the recruitment is approved by BCCI, Irfan’s deal is believed to be worth 75,000 dollars with further 2000 dollars for ever match. According to IPL regulations Irfan would have to get an NOC from PCB and also from Pakistan government’s foreign office.
Like many of Pakistan’http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zahid-c98463 however could not go on for long due to a back injury. Irfan was employed in a plastic pipe company and used to play club cricket. He fan based website after getting to know about Irfan tried hard to introduce him to Aqib Javed (former Pakistan fast bowler) at the national cricket academy in Lahore.
Aqib was instantly impressed by seeing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-Research-Laboratories-c804 and just in his 2nd match took 9 wickets. His picked up 43 wickets in his first season, and made one and all take notice.
Tags: