Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a star cricketer from Afghanistan, has made a difficult decision to leave his ailing mother in the hospital to join the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL playoffs. The decision was not easy for Gurbaz, but he felt obligated to join his “other family” and contribute to KKR’s playoff run. Gurbaz had been called up by KKR after Phil Salt left for national duties. Gurbaz had to fly back home to attend to his mother in the middle of the tournament, but he received a call from the KKR management about 10 days ago asking him to return. Gurbaz said it was a difficult choice, but he took his mother’s blessings and decided to come to India to participate in the IPL playoffs. “My mom is still sick. I went there (back home in Afghanistan). I got a call from KKR once Phil Salt was leaving. They called me and messaged me, saying, ‘Gurbaz, we need you; what is your situation?’. I said I’ll come. My mother is still recovering in the hospital, I speak to her every day. But I knew my KKR was also my family. They needed me here. So I came back from Afghanistan. It’s hard, it’s tough but I have to manage,” Gurbaz said in the post-match press conference at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmadabad. Gurbaz was KKR’s first-choice keeper-batter in the last season. He played 11 matches, scoring 227 runs at a strike rate of 133. But when England opener Jason Roy withdrew from the 17th edition, KKR drafted Salt as a replacement. The Englishman was immediately given preference as the primary keeper-batter and opener of the side. The decision proved an instant success, and along with Sunil Narine, Salt gave KKR breathtaking starts at the top of the order. The right-hander scored 435 runs in just 12 matches at a staggering strike rate of 182. Gurbaz had to wait for his chance, but he made sure he was prepared. “I should clarify this. As a cricketer, you know what to do. In League Cricket, only four overseas players can play in the XI. If you have an opportunity, you should try and do well. If you do not have an opportunity, you should prepare well and be ready. Whenever you get a chance, you have to be ready,” Gurbaz said. In his first match back, Gurbaz made a significant contribution with a 23-run knock off just 14 balls against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. His innings gave KKR a blistering start in their 160-run chase. Gurbaz’s knock helped KKR win the match by eight wickets and 6.2 overs to spare, securing their place in the final. KKR will now face the winner of Wednesday’s eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals in the final.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz Chooses Kolkata Knight Riders Over His Ailing Mother
