By Fakir Hassen, IANS,
Johannesburg : The secret of why South African Albie Morkel failed to appear on the field for Chennai Super Kings at the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Mumbai Indians in Cape Town Saturday is finally out.
Morkel, who helped his side beat Bangalore Royal Challengers in Port Elizabeth Monday evening by trapping countryman Jacques Kallis leg before after he struck five fours around the ground for 24 off 19 balls, could not play Saturday for a lack of shoes.
Morkel had to withdraw from the side Saturday at the last minute because his baggage had disappeared without trace and he could not find shoes of the right size with any of his teammates, the Afrikaans weekly Rapport said.
Morkel and his Super Kings teammate Makhaya Ntini had to catch a flight from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town after playing in the final one day international (ODI) that the hosts lost to visitors Australia, although they won the series 3-2.
But on arrival at Cape Town Airport, there was no sign of Morkel’s bag with all his cricket equipment in it.
“It was very frustrating as I was keen to make my mark early in the tournament, especially after being satisfied with my batting in the one-day series against Australia,” Morkel said.
The Morkel brothers appear jinxed with regard to shoes. Just a few days earlier, Morne Morkel had to borrow a pair from Ntini after his bag went to Cape Town instead of the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where he was playing.