Shah Rukh dismisses KKR-for-sale reports

Mumbai, April 30: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday dismissed reports that the beleaguered Indian Premier League franchisee is up for sale.

Shah Rukh said he had made a lot of emotional investment in building the side and was not selling it.

"The amount of love I have invested in it, nobody in this world can afford to buy it," Shah Rukh said after casting his vote today.

News reports earlier claimed the actor wanted to wash his hands of KKR, which has been struggling in the second IPL in South Africa.

According to reports, Shah Rukh was in touch with Nokia, Sahara and the Anil Ambani Group to sell the side he had bought last year for Rs 300 crore.

KKR has been plagued by a slew of controversies which went on to affect its performance on the field as the side managed just one win so far in the second IPL.

Coach John Buchanan`s multiple-captain theory, stripping Sourav Ganguly of captaincy and handing it over to Brendon McCullum, sending Aakash Chopra and Sanjay Bangar back home midway through the tournament and reports of a possible players` revolt against the coach -- all affected the side`s morale.

McCullum himself is going through a bad patch and has decided to step down if the side fails to reach the semifinals.

Shah Rukh was with the team in South Africa before returning home to cast his vote and he plans not to rejoin team unless it starts winning again.

"If my team continues to lose like this, I am not going back to South Africa. I will go only when they play well and win," Shah Rukh said.