Reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders have faced another dent, days before their first Champions League T20 opening match against Chennai Super Kings, as Proteas pacer Morne Morkel has been ruled out because of a shoulder injury.
Morkel, who spearheaded Knight Riders’ bowling attack in the IPL, is the third overseas KKR player that is ruled out of the tournament. The South African speedster was brought by Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise in 2014 IPL auction and he took 12 wickets in the last edition.
KKR has confirmed that wicketkeeper-batsman Manvinder Bisla has been included in the 15-member squad. Bisla was a part of a four-member group, including Piyush Chawla, Yusuf Pathan and Kuldeep Yadav, that was training in South Africa.
The Kolkata-based franchise is now left with six foreigners, including Jacques Kallis, Andre Russell, Ryan ten Doeschate, Sunil Narine and Pat Cummins, after Australian Chris Lynn and Shakib Al Hasan are ruled out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan team Southern Express has also faced a huge blow as Tillakaratne Dilshan has pulled out of the competition because of personal reasons. The Express are slated to play their first game against Northern Knights on September 13 in Raipur.
Lasith Malinga has already chosen Mumbai Indians over Southern Express and now missing Dilshan is a huge dent for the Islanders. Southern Express manager Shane Fernando, however, insisted that they have a balanced side that is capable of doing well in the tournament.
“As far as Dilshan is concerned he didn’t attend the practice and played games,” Fernando insisted. “Obviously he is big player and a great batsman. But we have a good balanced side and looking to do well in the championship.”
