IPL 2024 Auction: Punjab Kings issue clarification over Shashank Singh purchase; the player reacts

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Wednesday issued clarification on their purchase of allrounder Shashank Singh at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in Dubai, saying that the confusion was due to two players having the same name on the list. PBKS added that they were “delighted” to have the 32-year-old in their setup for the upcoming season. “Punjab Kings would like to clarify that Shashank Singh was always on our target list. The confusion was due to 2 players of the same name being on the list. We are delighted to have him onboard and see him contribute to our success,” PBKS posted on ‘X’.

🚨 Official Update 🚨

Punjab Kings would like to clarify that Shashank Singh was always on our target list. The confusion was due to 2 players of the same name being on the list. We are delighted to have him onboard and see him contribute to our success.

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 20, 2023

On Tuesday, Punjab Kings attempted to withdraw the bid for Shashank Singh during the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai, only for auctioneer Mallika Sagar to turn down the request to do so.

Fantastic scenes here as the notoriously inept Punjab Kings manage to not only purchase a player they didn’t want, (Shashank Singh), they also admit to this in front of literally everyone. Singh we can guess is sat at home wondering whether to show up in March. #IPLAuction #pbks pic.twitter.com/PtLQv9t07H

— Punjab Kings UK🇬🇧👑 (@PunjabKingsUK) December 19, 2023

PBKS had made a successful bid of Rs 20 lakh for Shashank, and just when the auctioneer had moved to the next name, Punjab co-owners Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta informed that they had made an error and wanted to pull out from the bid. However, Sagar was firm with her decision, saying: “The hammer has come down now.”

It’s All Cool … Thank you for Trusting on me!!!! https://t.co/Gs9hOnRspa

— shashank singh (@shashank2191) December 20, 2023

In response to the official statement, Shashank Singh posted, “It’s All Cool … Thank you for Trusting on me!!!!” he wrote on X. “We have picked the right player. He was being scouted by us for quite some time. He is a 32-year-old player from Chhattisgarh who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad during the 2022 season,” said a PBKS official to news agency PTI. “Reports are confusing him with a 19-year-old cricketer with the same name.” Shashank was previously part of Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with PBKS becoming his fourth team. PBKS spent Rs 24.95 crore at the auction, with Harshal Patel (Rs 11.75 crore) and Rilee Rossouw (Rs 8 crore) being their top signings. PBKS last made the playoffs in 2014, when they would reach the final before losing to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the summit clash.