Kolkata Knight Riders have roped in 29-year-old fast bowler from America Ali Khan as the replacement for England seamer Harry Gurney. Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Gurney pulled out of the IPL 2020 owing to an injury and will undergo surgery.
Ali joins the Knight Riders on the back of a spectacular Caribbean Premier League campaign. He was a part of the title-winning Trinbago Knight Riders camp where they won all of their 12 games. He becomes the first American player to be a part of the prestigious Indian Premier League.
Ali Khan join KKR as Harry Gurney’s replacement
Ali Khan can clock more than 140kph and often bowls in the slog overs and is known, in particular, for having a good yorker. He will be a good addition of the Knight Riders camp, who was also in search for a good death-over bowler. Incidentally, he was on KKR’s radar as a standby player last season as well.
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Meanwhile, the cricketer from the USA is one of the best fast bowlers playing in CPL. His notable performance in the Caribbeans has earned him contracts in various other global leagues. Ali Khan has featured in Pakistan Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League as well. This time also he had a good title with Trinbago picking eight wickets in eight matches with an economy rate of 7.43.
Ali joins the likes of Pat Cummins, Andre Russell, and Lockie Ferguson as an overseas recruit in the fast bowling department. Although there are doubts over him getting some game time, but it will surely be a learning curve for the fast bowler.
Eoin Morgan, Russell, Sunil Narine and Cummins are likely to be the first-choice players for the four overseas slots in the XI, at least to begin the tournament.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders begin their IPL 2020 campaign against defending champions Mumbai Indians on September 23.