Ball-tampering issue has made the players more aware and careful of what they do, claims Jacques Kallis

04/01/2018

Kolkata Knight Riders coach Jacques Kallis feels that this ball-tampering saga is a ‘wake-up call’ for all the players and it has made them aware that you have to be careful of what you do on the field. The 42-year-old also said that he would like to see his franchise KKR to play the hard but fair.

The ball-tampering saga has brought various opinions from everyone around the world. Australian captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were handed with a one-year ban while the culprit on the field, Cameron Bancroft, was banned for nine months. Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis also voiced his opinion on the ball-tampering scandal and said that it is a big wake-up call for all the players.

“I can't add to that too much but I think it's just been a wakeup call for everyone in international cricket. We need to look after this game and make sure we play in the right spirit and the right way. It's just made players all around the world aware that you have to be careful of what you do. So like I said it's going to be a big wake up call,” Jacques Kallis was quoted saying by TOI.

After spending four successful years at KKR, Kallis was appointed as the head coach of the Kolkata franchise ahead of the 2016 season. He is not a person who talks a lot but he said that he be urging his players to play hard and fair.

“What I will be pressing upon my players is that we play the game hard but we play fair. It's pretty much how I would like to see KKR play and that's how we have been playing in the past,” Kallis added.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) start their campaign with a home game against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 8.