Reports: KKR release Shakib-al-Hasan ahead of 2018 IPL auction

Ahead of the IPL retention deadline, franchises will be busy in finalising the names they want to retain ahead of 2018 IPL auction. Amidst this, there have been reports in Bangladeshi media that the Kolkata Knight Riders have released their Bangladesh import Shakib-al-Hasan.

The reports also suggest that the Bangladesh Cricket Board has given a no-objection certificate for Shakib and seven other cricketers to take part in the T20 extravaganza. A BCB official confirmed the development about the players getting the NoC from the board.

The board has given a green signal to, apart from Shakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Abul Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan and Liton Das for their participation in the tournament.

Mustafizur, who played a key role for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2016 edition in which the Men in Orange won the title, played just one match last season and is unlikely to be retained ahead of the 2018 auction. Both Shakib and Mustafizur are set to fetch a huge amount in the auctions that will take place later this month.

There were also a few reports that Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir might not be retained by the franchise for the 2018 season. Last week, Gambhir himself revealed that he is open to playing for any other franchise in the 2018 IPL as he is looking for different challenges that will keep him motivated and hungry.

“It is very surprising that I have not spoken to anyone (in KKR management). I don’t know about myself (future with KKR). We’ll probably sit and talk after the Ranji final. But yes I am (open to playing for any franchise). You have achieved so much for KKR. You have done whatever you could."

"If things do not work out in future, the good part is that you are leaving a franchise on a good note, when it has become a successful franchise. Not when you were struggling. As a professional, you want different challenges. There is nothing wrong in it. That’ll keep you motivated and hungry,” he said, in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times.

In all likelihood, Kolkata will look to retain Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Manish Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav.