Amla set for IPL debut

NEW DELHI — South African batsman Hashim Amla is to join Kings XI Punjab for the rest of the Indian Premier League season after Shaun Marsh became the latest Australian player to pull out injured. The former South Africa skipper revealed on Twitter that he would be joining the IPL's basement team as a replacement for Marsh in what will be his first stint in India's money-spinning Twenty20 contest. "Excited to be with @lionsdenkixp for the remainder of the @ipl. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the support peeps," said Amla. The 33-year-old's signing comes after Marsh, a batting all-rounder, failed to shake off a back injury which he reportedly picked up in a game against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 19. He is the fourth Australian to return home early from this year's IPL, which began on April 9 and wraps up on May 29. Skipper Steve Smith, bowler John Hastings and Marsh's brother Mitchell have also gone home to avoid aggravating their injuries ahead of Australia's participation in a tri-nation series in the West Indies next month. Amla, who stepped down as South Africa's Test captain in January, was one of the few bright spots in his country's disappointing showing at the recent World Twenty20 in India, scoring two half-centuries Russell stars as Kolkata edges Punjab In Kolkata, Andre Russell returned with a four-wicket haul to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to a seven-run win over Kings XI Punjab and to top of the points table in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Wednesday. Put into bat, Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa blasted half centuries to give Kolkata a perfect launchpad but Punjab did well to restrict it to a modest 164 for three. The host then returned to restrict Punjab to 157 for nine in their stipulated 20 overs, despite a strokeful 68 off 42 balls by Australia’s Glenn Maxwell and a seven-ball 21-run cameo by Axar Patel down the order. Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 164 for 3 (Uthappa 70, Gambhir 54) beat Kings XI Punjab 157 for 9 (Maxwell 68; Russell 4-20) by seven runs Renegades may bring back Gayle The Melbourne Renegades are considering bringing back Chris Gayle for another 'Big Bash' cricket tournament despite the furor the West Indies batsman caused by asking a reporter out on a date during a televised interview. Gayle was fined A$10,000 ($7,500) and slammed by Renegades' management in January after directing personal comments at Channel Ten reporter Mel McLaughlin. The Jamaican later told reporters it was a "simple joke" that had been blown out of proportion and offered a qualified apology to McLaughlin. Victoria state and Renegades coach David Saker said that while Gayle's behavior was wrong it would not factor into his recruiting decisions. "I just pick a squad of players. If the hierarchies or people in higher positions than myself come down on that, they do," Saker told local media. "We know it was the wrong thing to do and he probably identified that quite quickly. We all did. But I think what happened afterwards was a bit of a beat-up. "There's still a chance of (recruiting Gayle).”