Kashmiri Indian pacer secretly joins Kolkata Knight Riders, Black Armbands Permission sought from BCCI
Published - 26 Apr 2025, 12:14 PM | Updated - 26 Apr 2025, 01:10 PM
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) reportedly requested approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to wear black armbands during the IPL 2025 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The Kolkata team wants to pay homage to the victims of the Pahalgam attack, but the BCCI has not yet issued a statement.
The nation was in shock after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Notably, the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians on April 23 was played without fireworks and celebrations. A minute’s silence was observed before the match, and players, along with the umpires, wore black armbands.
Kolkata Knight Riders Seek BCCI's Approval to Wear Black Armbands
RevSportz reported that the Kolkata Knight Riders have requested permission from the BCCI to wear black armbands during their match against the Punjab Kings. The gesture is intended to pay homage to the victims of the recent tragic incident in Pahalgam.
"🚨 Kolkata Knight Riders have requested the BCCI to allow them to wear black armbands for their game against Punjab Kings," RevSportz wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
🚨 Kolkata Knight Riders have requested the BCCI to allow them to wear black armbands for their game against Punjab Kings.
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 25, 2025
As per reports, at least 26 people were killed after terrorists opened fire on Tuesday. In response, the Kashmir Valley witnessed a shutdown, the first of its kind in 35 years. People protested against the violence and expressed their solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
Umran Malik joins KKR
In a massive development right before the Punjab Kings match, Kolkata Knight Riders have inducted Indian pacer Umran Malik. As per the official statement, Umran Malik has joined KKR to complete his rehab with the franchise for the remainder of IPL 2025.
It is worth noting that Umran Malik has not been named in the official Kolkata Knight Riders squad despite joining the team. He will just travel with the side and spend time with the franchise to focus on certain key areas as his rehab continues.
KKR bought Umran Malik in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction at Rs 75 Lakhs. He had been a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise for the last 3 years, but he was released prior to the auction this year.
However, his injury continued to trouble KKR, and the pacer from Kashmir couldn't play a single game before being ruled out of IPL 2025. KKR had signed Chetan Sakariya as Umran's replacement for the remainder of the tournament.
Statement from KKR: Pacer Umran Malik has joined squad in Kolkata to continue rehab and “return to cricket” programme with KKR for remainder of season.
— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) April 25, 2025
He’s not joining as official playing member of squad, but will work with team and support staff to get back to best #IPL2025
Kolkata Knight Riders Win Just Three of Their First Eight Matches
Kolkata Knight Riders have won only three of their first eight matches. They are in seventh in the standings with a net run rate (NRR) of +0.212. On the other hand, Punjab Kings are in the fifth spot with 10 points from eight games and an NRR of +0.177.
In their previous encounter on April 15, PBKS defeated KKR in a low-scoring thriller in Mullanpur. KKR, who are the defending champions, have lost three of their last four games. KKR fell short by 39 runs against the Gujarat Titans (GT).
Captain Ajinkya Rahane smashed a fifty, but KKR could only manage 159-8. PBKS also lost their last match to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and will be eager to bounce back.
Also read: Stephen Fleming explodes on CSK resources after IPL 2025 exit
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