Kaif dumped at last minute

But Kaif’s hopes suffered an eleventh-hour setback on Wednesday,when it was announced that he would be sent back home because the

Royals did not need his services this time around. He was reportedly told that he “wasn’t part of the plan”,a phrase that has seemed to chase him over the last few seasons,usually without any clear reason.

‘Stronger squad’

In a press statement,the team management said that they had always intended to cut the squad down to “17-18 players” and a strengthened group meant Kaif had to miss out. “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,” the statement,signed by co-owner Manoj Badale,read. The statement further said that Kaif was part of a group of seven players who would be returning to India from Cape Town to India. The other players on the list are Dinesh Salunkhe,Paras Dogra,Anup Revandkar,Srideep Mangela,Ashraf Makda and Azhar Malik.

Incidentally,there is no limit to the number of players that can be kept in the squad. Kaif was the franchise’s most expensive pick last year,signed for $675,000.

Badale further said in the statement that the decision was taken only for this edition of the IPL. “We are a family,building a long-term franchise,and for us player participation is not about one season alone — and all of the guys returning have a big role to play in future matches and tournaments.” He also added that in case of injuries or other unforeseen circumstances,players could still return as back-ups.

While no reasons for dropping Kaif were given,it is learnt that the management decided to leave him out on last year’s performance. In 16 matches,Kaif scored only 176 runs at an average of 16 with a top score of 34. His domestic performances since then were clearly disregarded.

Nothing new

Such sudden blows are not new to Kaif,who last played a Test match for India against the West Indies in Kingston back in 2006 — a four-match series in which he averaged 56.50,only behind Rahul Dravid’s 82.66,and hit a career-best 148 not out.

He also hasn’t turned out in a one-dayer for India since November that year,axed after a disastrous series defeat in South Africa — where the entire line-up consistently failed — despite having scored three fifties in the previous eight matches. A good run in domestic games got him back into the Test squad for the series against South Africa in 2008,in place of the injured Sachin Tendulkar,but he didn’t make it to the playing XI.

But what makes this latest IPL blow even worse is its timing,because it gives Kaif no option to negotiate with other teams. “If he wasn’t a part of the plan,he could’ve been told before. Other teams may have wanted him,but I don’t know what he will do now,” said one of Kaif’s former team mates who is also a part of the IPL.

The axe to the former India player is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Indian cricketers in the run-up to the IPL. The Bangalore Royal Challengers dropped Rahul Dravid as captain,Deccan Chargers named Adam Gilchrist as skipper instead of VVS Laxman,while Kolkata Knight Riders are yet to announce their leader even after coach John Buchanan’s plan to field several captains over the course of the tournament has been shelved.