Five Kolkata Knight Riders players asked to leave team hotel

Kolkata, May 13 : The team management of the Kolkata Knight Riders team today "politely" asked five of its players, who are yet to feature in the side's 14-member squad in any match, to leave the team hotel, in a move to cut costs.

Ranadeb Bose, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sourasish Lahiri, Yashpal Singh and Hokkaido "politely given the option of either staying at the team hotel or going home".

"It was clear what the the team managment wants. Apparently coach John Buchannan feels that he has found his set combination and had no need for the fringe players," one of the players told to go, said.

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar has said he is fit and will lead the Mumbai Indians in their next game, against the Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday. The news will be a shot in the arm for Mumbai, who played the first half of the IPL without Tendulkar, forced to sit out with a groin injury.

The rehabilitation process has been successful, Tendulkar announced, saying there was no "discomfort" and he will open Mumbai's innings with Sanath Jayasuriya.

ANI