Former India opener Aakash Chopra has reacted to the rumors of Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan joining the Ahmedabad franchise over Lucknow. Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auctions, rumors have surfaced that Ahmedabad is set to rope in flamboyant India all-rounder Hardik Pandya as its captain, while wicketkeepers Ishan Kishan and Rashid Khan will be the other two draft picks for them. The BCCI has asked the two new franchises to complete the signing of three players by January 22. The deadline has been given after the process to formally approve the ownership of CVC Capital for the Ahmedabad franchisee.
IPL Chairman IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel has already announced that the mega auction of IPL will be held on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru.
Earlier, rumor suggested that Rashid would join the Lucknow franchise but now the tide has shifted towards Ahmedabad. Chopra addressed the latest rumours and said that Rashid’s involvement in Ahmedabad in Lucknow is going to be a robbery.
“The news has come that Hardik Pandya is going to become the captain of the Ahmedabad franchise. There is also talk of Ishaan Kishan and Rashid Khan. It means Rashid Khan is not going to Lucknow, it is a robbery in my opinion. It was expected that Rahul and Rashid Khan would be there, but they are not there,” Chopra said in a video on her YouTube channel.
The BCCI has given formal approval to the Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises of IPL.
There was controversy over CVC Capital, which won the bid for the Ahmedabad franchise last year. It emerged that the European arm of the investment firm had links to betting companies. However, it later emerged that the firm had invested through its Asian funds which had no affiliation with the betting companies.
“The Ahmedabad franchise is confirmed, they have already got the letter of intent. It is also decided that the auction will be held on February 12 and 13. But Hardik Pandya will be picked in the draft and he will be the captain. It’s phenomenal, it’s great,” Chopra further said in the video.
Read also | Virat Kohli’s India rip it on the stump microphone after Dean Elgar’s comeback due to controversial DRS
Chopra further said that Shreyas Iyer and David Warner may enter the IPL auctions where Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians will target them.
“If Warner also wants to come to the auction and he doesn’t go to Lucknow, Lucknow will be wondering who to pick. There were rumors that Shreyas Iyer might go to Ahmedabad but that might not be happening.”
“Shreyas Iyer could have gone to Bangalore, could have gone to Mumbai. Mumbai can go after Warner, I think RCB will also go after Warner. If Warner comes to the auction, he’s going to be a very valuable commodity.”
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
,