April 27, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 20, 1429

MELBOURNE, April 26: Australian batsman Brad Hodge will miss the next five weeks of the county season with Lancashire after signing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) competition.

The move has come as a surprise and the player only learnt of the approach within the last 48 hours.

Hodge is the leading scorer in Twenty20 cricket worldwide with 1,649 runs at 42 and a strike-rate of 139 from 47 games.

“I was approached only 24-48 hours ago and I’m still in shock at the opportunity that has been presented,” he said.

“Twenty20 is a format that I really enjoy and have a good record in, and to be part of the inaugural IPL tournament is something most cricketers would find hard to turn down.

“It’s been an extremely difficult decision to make, but Lancashire have been very understanding of my situation and I hope to repay them on the field when I return.”

Hodge will join his Victoria team-mate David Hussey at Kolkata, who will lose Brendon McCullum to New Zealand’s tour of England at the end of April.

—Agencies