Shah Rukh Khan arranged Boeing aircraft for KKR team in 1 hour, recalls Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram was KKR's bowling coach from 2010 to 2016 and during his tenure the team won two IPL titles. Shah Rukh Khan is co-owner of KKR
Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram has recalled how Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan arranged a Boeing aircraft for players so that they could rest before an IPL knockout match.
Akram served as KKR’s bowling coach from 2010 to 2016. During his tenure, KKR won two IPL titles, in 2012 and 2014.
Incident from IPL 2012
The former Pakistani fast bowler narrated an incident from 2012 when SRK arranged a private airplane for the players.
"I think this happened during the 2012 IPL season. Our knockout match was in Kolkata, and I remember we were going to arrive via, via some place. Shah Rukh Khan was there, so I asked him, 'Khan saab, ek request hai (Mr Khan, I have a request)'. I said, 'Ladke bade thak jayenge, hum kal pahunchenge, parso match hai. Toh agar ek private plane (The team will get extremely tired. We'll reach tomorrow, and the match is the day after. If a private plane could be arranged)...'" Akram said in an interaction with VU Sports.
"He said, 'Thak jayenge ladke? Koi problem nahi (They'll get tired you say, no problem)'. Within one hour, pura Boeing jahaaz khada tha for the whole team," Akram added.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing IPL 2025, KKR, the defending champions, are struggling with just seven points from nine games. They are placed seventh.
