Akhtar is still a ‘knight’ at heart

Dhaka: Shoaib Akhtar, who played three matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL’s inaugural year, 2008, is still “emotionally attached” to the franchise.

“I keep a track of KKR... I’ll always remember my association with it... I’m emotionally attached to KKR and to Calcutta and Eden Gardens,” Shoaib told The Telegraph.

Speaking at the Sheraton on Saturday, Shoaib said it was “painful” that not one franchise bought Sourav Ganguly during last month’s auction for 2011 and 2012.

Sourav, KKR’s first captain, had pressed for Shoaib in his line-up.

“If people try and humiliate Sourav, try and take away his contribution to Indian cricket, then it would mean playing around with history. Sourav must always be given his due,” is how Shoaib put it, pretty emotionally.

That bit should cheer up Sourav, India’s most successful Test captain.

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