IPL 2016: KKR sign Tait to replace Hastings

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

05/12/2016

Kolkata Knight Riders, who had earlier lost Australian pacer John Hastings to an injury, have roped in Shaun Tait as his replacement. KKR had been looking for a replacement ever since Hastings suffered an ankle injury in mid April, after playing just two matches, and had flown back to Australia.

Shaun Tait, on the other hand, was listed at a base price of Rs 1.5 Cr but went unsold in the auction held in February. Tait joined the Kolkata camp on Wednesday and attended the team’s training session.

The Aussie pacer has played in the IPL earlier, donning the colours of now-suspended-franchise Rajasthan Royals, and the Kolkata-based franchise will only be his second team in the competition. Tait’s last Australian cap was in January in the bilateral T20 series against India. He was subsequently dropped for the World T20, and he will be fresh from the lack of top-level cricket in the past few weeks. However, he did play for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League and was also recently signed by Glamorgan.

(Read how your favourite team can qualify for the playoffs)

KKR next play Rising Pune Supergiants on Saturday, and Tait will look to play a part by being available for selection.