Tim Seifert joins Kolkata Knight Riders as Ali Khan injury replacement

Seifert, like Khan, played under Kolkata head coach Brendon McCullum during the Caribbean Premier League at Trinbago Knight Riders

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert has been added to Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad as a replacement for Ali Khan, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League with a side strain.

The USA international – the first from the country to earn an IPL contract – only joined up with Brendon McCullum’s franchise after it was revealed that Harry Gurney would miss the entire competition with a shoulder problem.

Seifert, like Khan, played under McCullum during the Caribbean Premier League at Trinbago Knight Riders and has earned comparisons to the former New Zealand captain for his ultra-aggressive batting style.

However, even as Trinbago won the CPL in September, Seifert endured a mediocre campaign, scoring just 133 runs in nine innings.

Northern Districts, Seifert’s first-class team in New Zealand, had earlier confirmed that he would miss their Plunket Shield after signing for Kolkata.

He joins a jampacked roster of overseas players, with Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Chris Green, Tom Banton and Pat Cummins all part of the squad.