Kolkata: Well, is the tension between India and Pakistan influencing zones beyond the political? Check this out! There’s trouble in paradise. Wasim Akram, a legend in his own right will no longer be available for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2017 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The veteran Sultan of Swing who has represented Pakistan in 104 Tests and 356 One-day internationals has withdrawn himself from the next year’s edition owing to “professional commitments and time constraints,” according to News Agency PTI.
The KKR release says, “Bowling Coach and Mentor, Wasim Akram will miss the upcoming IPL 2017 season. The legendary all-rounder has cited professional commitments and time constraints for his inability to be part of KKR for the upcoming season.” According to Venky Mysore, MD & CEO of KKR, “We will miss Wasim Bhai who has been part of the KKR family over the last few years and has played a significant role in our title triumphs in 2012 and 2014. We wish him the very best in all his endeavours.”
The former Pakistan skipper with 414 scalps in Tests and 502 wickets in the 50-over format elaborated that he would miss the KKR a lot especially the dressing room. “I have loved the camaraderie in KKR team and have enjoyed every opportunity to mentor the highly talented team over the years. I am surely going to miss being part of the dressing room but I wish the team continued success,” he was quoted by the News Agency.
If we look at KKR, Akram’s absence will be a big jolt because not only was he a mentor, but also had a towering presence that emboldened the entire team. However, certain things should be taken in stride and KKR now will have to deal with circumstances that won’t have Akram around.
Sad loss, yet we need to delve deep into the real reasons behind Akram’s decision! Politics plays a dirty game, doesn’t it?