KKR shortlist six ICL deserters

KKR shortlist six ICL deserters

Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan said the IPL outfit is eyeing at least six players who have snapped ties ICL.

Soon after BCCI granted amnesty to 79 current cricketers, Buchanan said it was an opportunity for KKR to rope in some of the players, who have left 'rebel' Indian Cricket League and are eligible to return to mainstream fold, to revive their fortune in the IPL.

"We've shortlisted about half a dozen Indian batsmen in the ICL. Now we're just waiting to hear back from the IPL as to how they will approach this issue of letting players in - if there will be a draft or an open market," Buchanan told Cricinfo.

The Australian said he always felt KKR lacked local talents and it hurt them badly in IPL II, in which they finished at the bottom.

"I said right from the outset that we were short of quality Indian top-order batsmen and that is still the case. The ICL has released quite a few players in the last little while. There are quite a lot of good, young Indian batsmen among them and I think that is a situation that could work well for KKR," Buchanan said.

Kolkata owner Shah Rukh Khan 

Incidentally, Buchanan's own future does not look secure with the franchise amid reports that owner Shah Rukh Khan might sack the Australian after the team's dismal show in IPL II.

Asked if he expected to return to India for IPL III, Buchanan said, "I do at the moment".

He, however, admitted things may not pan out exactly the way he wants and said, "It's all under review at the moment. There's lots of conjecture out there at the moment, but it will come down to what the team wants and how the owners feel. Nothing is finalised. Shah Rukh was not over there for the final stages of the tournament. I have spoken with (co-owner) Jai Mehta, but he said he had been finding it difficult to get in touch with Shah Rukh."


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