IPL 2016: Preity Zinta allegedly threatens to sack Sanjay Bangar after loss to RCB - Reports
The co-owner of IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab and Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has allegedly threatened to sack the coach Sanjay Bangar after they lost their last match against Royal Challengers Bangalore by just one run at Mohali on 9 May.
According to reports in DNA, Preity was extremely upset with the former Indian cricketer for not sending Axar Patel before South African all-rounder Farhaan Behardien. It led to an ugly altercation between the ex-Bollywood damsel and the coach .
The Punjab-based franchise was on their course to win the match at their home ground while chasing 176 against the Virat Kohli-led side. In what turned out to be a nerve-juggling encounter between two evenly match teams and in the end, the Kings fell short by just one run.
Preity Zinta reportedly blamed Bangar for the team’s failure this season. However, both Bangar and Preity have already denied that the incident took place but reports also claim that there were a few people who said that they had witnessed the fight.
Also read – Virender Sehwag dubs Virat Kohli the most dangerous batsman in the world
This has been a disastrous campaign for the KXIP as they are currently at the bottom of the IPL points table. They have managed to win only three out of their ten games this season and have a minimal chance to qualify for the playoffs.
One of the major problems for the team in this year’s tournament has been that the big players haven’t fired yet. With match winners like David Miller, Mitchell Johnson and Glenn Maxwell failing to fire, this has been another IPL to forget for Preity Zinta and co.
Injury problem to key players has also played a part in their traumatic season. Shaun Marsh, one of the most successful overseas players of the franchise went back home after enduring an injury in the middle of the tournament.
Also read – IPL 2016: Shaun Tait added to Kolkata Knight Riders squad
The team management had appointed aggressive South African batsman David Miller as the captain of the team at the start of the season but then removed him after seven matches. Indian Test opener Murali Vijay was then appointed as the new captain of the team. The change in captaincy has worked positively for the Kings but the team has still lacked stability.
The Kings will take on defending champions Mumbai Indians on 13 May at Visakhapatnam.