Rajasthan Royals have sacked seven of their players including former Indian cricketer, Mohammad Kaif from their squad in the second season of the IPL. However, it has been said that if there were injuries to any of the remaining players, he could return to the country.
The other six players who have also got the boot are Paras Dogra, Anup Revandkar, Ashraf Makda, Srideep Mangela, Azhar Malik, and Dinesh Salunkhe. Salunkhe, a leg-spinner, was the winner of a talent hunt last year and did represent the Royals in some of the matches. Surprisingly, Mohammad Kaif was Rajasthan’s costliest buy and the team had shelled out $675,000 for his purchase. Yet, he managed to score only 176 runs in the sixteen matches he played in and his average was a measly 16 runs per innings. When one considers that his strike-rate wasn’t too great either, and Kaif does not bowl too, it makes for a perfect combination for a sack coming one’s way.
The owner of the team, Manoj Badale said, “It has always been a target to pick a final squad of 17-18 players, and this year we have an even stronger squad than last year. It is disappointing to have to let go of any players, as they are all stars in our view. Much of the attention will focus on Mohammed Kaif, who has been a key part of our success to date - not just as a batsman, but as a role model for our younger Indian players. He has been extremely supportive of the decision, which says a lot about him as a person. Injuries and new conditions mean that the player’s participation later in the tournament is not ruled out.”
My take on the issue: Pink slips are the name of the game these days, and despite all the assurances of a recession proof IPL, one has seen the perform-or-perish wand being brandished by many a team owners. Having said that, Kaif’s batting style was always going to be an issue for him in this format of the game, and it was very evident that his last season’s performances were always going to hurt.
And hurt it has. One wonders whether this is the end of the road for this fighter from Uttar Pradesh or if he can make some sort of a comeback soon. Only time will tell!