Kolkata Knight Riders team very hungry to win says team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan

KKR owner Bollywood actor and  team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan with his son AbRam at Eden Gardens. Photo: PTI

owner Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan with his son AbRam at Eden Gardens. Photo: PTI - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/ipl8-kkr-squad-very-hungry-to-win-says-srk/16127169#sthash.hh8IMtR7.dpuf

KKR owner Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan with his son AbRam at Eden Gardens. Photo: PTI - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/ipl8-kkr-squad-very-hungry-to-win-says-srk/16127169#sthash.hh8IMtR7.dpuf

KKR owner Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan with his son AbRam at Eden Gardens. Photo: PTI - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/ipl8-kkr-squad-very-hungry-to-win-says-srk/16127169#sthash.hh8IMtR7.dpufv

KKR owner Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan with his son AbRam at Eden Gardens. Photo: PTI - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/ipl8-kkr-squad-very-hungry-to-win-says-srk/16127169#sthash.hh8IMtR7.dpuf

Bollywood superstar and team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan said his squad is "very hungry" for the top spot in the tournament.

Elated at Kolkata Knight Riders' emphatic victory over Mumbai Indians at the Indian Premier League opening match

"I love my team and we are sticking by boys who I think are international level players and I think they are very hungry to make it there and each of them have done so well, not only tonight but for the last three or four years," he said after defending champions KKR sailed to a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday night.

SRK, who had brought his three children to the match, acknowledged the public's appreciation for good cricket.

"We have fans all over the country just like how they are for the Indian team and I think it's beautiful that in Bengaluru, Chennai, everywhere, wherever we go in Rajasthan, Mumbai...the crowds love you."

"Everyone, especially here and some other cities that I have been to, appreciate good cricket and we believe in that ourselves," said the matinee idol, in an interaction with a television channel.

The "Happy New Year" actor also highlighted KKR's sportsman spirit.

"Our last tweet which always comes from KKR before the start of the match is 'best of luck' to the opposing team. We have a rule in the team... be warm and hospitable to the team which has come to play here (in Kolkata)... try to win but the hospitality should be better. Till you win the finals... be humble," he said.

KKR sign Johan Bothaas and Azhar Mahmood as replacements

Johan Botha has been brought in as cover for Shakib Al Hasan, who will be with Bangladesh at the time of the IPL © AFP

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have named all-rounders Azhar Mahmood and Johan Botha as replacements for James Neesham and Chris Lynn, both of whom will be missing the eighth season of the IPL, scheduled to start on April 8, due to injuries. While a hamstring tear has sidelined Lynn for 10 weeks, Neesham hasn’t yet completely recovered from an unnamed injury. Though raw, Lynn and Neesham, both 24 years old, are among the finest talents in world cricket now.

Neesham, who failed to make New Zealand's World Cup squad, has not regained match fitness after an unspecified injury. He had played four matches for Delhi Daredevils in 2014, was let go and later bought by Knight Riders for Rs 50 lakh during the auction in February.

Lynn was ruled out for 10 weeks after a hamstring problem in the Sheffield Shield earlier this month. He equalled the record for the fastest fifty in the Big Bash League and finished ninth on the charts with 243 runs at a strike rate of 148.17. His first-class season had begun with a shoulder concern, but they were laid to rest during a double-century against Victoria in Brisbane. With form behind him, Lynn could have filled the vacancy left by Jacques Kallis, who retired from all forms of the game last year. 
 Mahmood's vast experience - he has played 213 T20s - and knowledge of Indian conditions worked in his favour. He has played two seasons in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab - 2012 and 2013 - and made 382 runs at a strike-rate of 129.05. In 22 matches, he has also taken 29 wickets at an economy rate of 7.61.

Botha, who played three seasons with Rajasthan Royals and then turned out for Daredevils in 2013, was picked by the coach Trevor Bayliss as cover for allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who will miss a part of the IPL due to national commitments since Bangladesh are scheduled to host Pakistan from April 15.

Botha had an average BBL as a bowler, but as captain he led Adelaide Strikers into the semi-final. "He is the Shakib type of player," Mysore said. "Whenever Shakib is unavailable Botha fits in in with similar skills."

Shakib is likely to play the first two matches at Eden Gardens - the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians on April 8 and three days later against Royal Challengers Bangalore. "He will play as many games as possible before and after the Pakistan tour," Mysore said. "BCB has been most cooperative with us and keeping mind the Pakistan schedule he will be allowed to play to the extent possible."
Venky Mysore, the Knight Riders chief executive, admitted losing Lynn and Neesham was untimely, but was confident that Mahmood and Botha would excel.


collected from:http://www.sportskeeda.com/http://www.espncricinfo.com

KKR threaten to pull out of IPL if Narine is not allowed to play: Reports

The BCCI are insisting that Sunil Narine undergoes another test in order to clear his action. © Getty

IPL season 8 is only nine days away and a fresh controversy has starte brewing.
Kolkata Knight Riders are on a collision course with the BCCI regardingoffspinner Sunil Narine's participation in the tournament Narine was banned for his suspect action during the 2014 Champions League Twenty20 and he could not play in the final against the Chennai Super Kings, which KKR lost by eight wickets . He was not picked for the West Indies tour to India in November and he opted out of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. He modified his action and was cleared by the ICC during his biomechanical test in Loughborough. However, in Narine's case, the ICC did not organise the test as he was not called during an international match. He was called during the Champions League Twenty20, a tournament that is run by the BCCI. According to the rules in the BCCI, since he was called for a second time, he was banned from bowling in any BCCI-organised tournament.

According to a report in the Mumbai Mirror, the BCCI has refused to accept the report submitted by the ICC and has insisted the offspinner undergoes another round of testing at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai. However, according to sources, KKR is contemplating legal action against the BCCI. Reports also say that if Narine is not allowed to play in the IPL, KKR might pull out of the tournament.

The team is pointing out that since the bowler was cleared by the ICC, there is no need for a second test and the management is firm that it will not force Narine to undergo another test. The team has met BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and have told him that Narine has been 'targeted'.

They pointed out that Narine was not called for chucking during the IPL but his action was suddenly found illegal in two consecutive matches in the CLT20. Dalmiya's office has confirmed that the matter has reached the president's table and that a decision could be taken in a day or two. KKR chief executive officer Venky Mysore has refused to confirm or deny the reports about his team speaking to Dalmiya.

Meanwhile, in another development, KKR have gotten in Johan Botha and Azhar Mahmood as replacements for Chris Lynn and Jimmy Neesham. Neesham will miss the IPL due to a stress fracture in his back while Lynn is in doubt for the whole tournament due to a hamstring injury. Mysore tweeted about this development on his twitter handle






collected from:http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/71389/kkr-might-pull-out-of-ipl-if-narine-is-not-allowed-to-play-reports