Kolkata Knight Riders' 1st-ever player sold at an IPL auction and it is NOT Sourav Ganguly

IPL 2020 is all set to commence in UAE from September 19 and will go on till vember 10. 13th edition of tournament was originally slated to start on March 29, however, cash-rich league was indefinitely postponed due to coronavirus pandemic. With IPL 2020 soon approaching, franchises are leaving stone unturned to prepare mselves for tournament.

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Shoaib Akhtar was Kolkata Knight Riders' first pick in IPL 2008

Kolkata Knight Riders are one such franchise who will look to lay ir hands on ir third IPL title. Kolkata-based franchise has been one of best teams in tournament, having won title in 2012 and 2014. However, Kolkata Knight Riders' performance in first three years of  tournament was dismal, to say least. 

Kolkata Knight Riders spent big money in inaugural edition of IPL and secured services of some of best players in world. player that we generally associate Kolkata Knight Riders with is former India captain Sourav Ganguly. However, it is t a kwn fact that Sourav Ganguly wasn't  first player that KKR bought at IPL auction. In fact, Ganguly wasn't even named in auction since he was selected t only as Kolkata's captain but also as its 'icon player' back n.

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Rar, it was former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar who was first player to be bought by Kolkata Knight Riders. Overall, he was fourth player whose name was raised, after Shane Warne, MS Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist. Akhtar was valued at USD$425,000, which amounted to ₹1.7 crore back n.

However, move turned out to be a disaster as he only played three matches for Kolkata Knight Riders, where he bagged 5 wickets at an ecomy rate of 7.71. Shoaib Akhtar could never play in IPL again because of unstable political relations between India and Pakistan, due to which Pakistani players were banned from playing in league.

On or hand, Sourav Ganguly was paid a whopping USD $1,093,000 (₹4.37 crore as of 2008) per season. According to tournament's first set of rules (although abolished w), team's icon player was a status given to five players of  IPL to ensure that top draw players will represent ir respective home city sides, which was important for league to increase fan support and interest among locals. BCCI President went on to represent Kolkata Knight Riders for three years, But, he couldn't produce desired results, which is why he was released by m and replaced by Gautam Gambhir in 2011.

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What is Shoaib Akhtar net worth?

Shoaib Akhtar is one of richest cricket players in world and has a net worth that stands at an estimated $23 million or ₹163 crore, as reported by  Net Worth Portal. Hіѕ іnсrеаѕеd nеt еаrnіngs саn bе ассоuntеd tо vаrіоuѕ fасtоrѕ lіkе hіѕ аѕѕосіаtіоn wіth multіtudе brаndѕ, commentary stints and YouTube channel, where he has more than 1.91 million subscribers. Shoaib Akhtar оwnѕ ѕtуlіѕh bіkеs such as Duсаtі Rеd Неаvу Віkе and Hоndа СВR Fіrеblаdе. Араrt frоm thіѕ, Akhtar net worth also includes his luхurіоuѕ саrѕ lіkе Whіtе Раrаdо, Ноndа Сіvіс, Тоуоtа Lаnd Сruіѕеr Рrаdо, Меrсеdеѕ Веnz аnd Ѕіlvеr Тurf. Не оwnѕ а ѕрlеndіd mаnѕіоn іn Іѕlаmаbаd whісh hаѕ аll top fасіlіtіеѕ. 

Disclaimer: above Shoaib Akhtar net worth salary information is sourced from various websites and media reports. website does t guarantee 100% accuracy of Shoaib Akhtar net worth salary figures.  

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IM COURTESY: SOURAV GANGULY TWITTER