Shoaib free to play in IPL

The PCB has cleverly washed its hands off Shoaib Akthar.

 

The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected Shoaib Akhtar's appeal against the five-year ban imposed on him for repeated disciplinary breaches, but confirmed that he is free to resume his career overseas. The decision means Shoaib is free to compete in the Indian Premier League while remaining persona non grata on home soil.

 

Now the onus is on his overseas employers like the IPL to make him behave.

 

The BCCI should take a leaf out of PCB's book and follow suit. It should ban Harbhajan and Sreesanth from playing in India.

 

What do you say?

 

 

Harbhajan may escape a life ban

It would be disappointing if Harbhajan escapes a life ban. He has failed us and sullied the name of the cricketers who have played for the country.

 

However, the BCCI is willing to give him another chance.

 

Will he mend his ways?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IPL - Twenty20 is a specialist's game

Watching the likes of Dravid, Ganguly and Kallis struggling to make an impact, it is clear, that a solid technical Test batsman is unsuitable for the Twenty20 format. Twenty20 format requires batsmen with a hand eye coordination of a tennis player and the swing of a golfer.

Similarly, bowlers too need to have skills suited to Twenty20. Batsmen who plonk their foot at a length and smash it down the ground can swat around a good Test match bowler who bowls line and length. It is easy for the Twenty20 specialists to scoop a bowler of the length for boundaries or slash rising deliveries over square or behind the keeper.

IPL's inaugural tournament has just thrown up two bowlers who seemed to have the hang of it. One of them is Glenn McGrath. However, one gets the feeling that his reputation for precision bowling has his opponents in a thrall. His test will come when the likes of Dhoni or Yuvraj take him on in a do or die situation.

The other bowler who has impressed in the matches played so far is Joginder Sharma. His case is peculiar. Other than a seeming lack of nerves, one is unable to identify any special Twenty20 bowling skills. Yet he has succeeded in delivering the goods at crunch time. It will be interesting to observe whether we are watching a lucky bowler or the birth of a specialist Twenty20 bowler.

If there is one other breed that seems to have tailored itself to the Twenty20 format, it is that of the spinners. However, excepting Warne, the others have flattered to deceive. Nevertheless, they can evolve to this format as the nature of their trade provides them enough leeway to follow the batsmen.

This brings us to the question of the day. Is there a breed called specialist Twenty20 bowler and if so, who epitomizes it?

A Blogger has no respect left for the ICC

He takes a strong stand and insists that the ICC will rue the day they disappointed him.

 

 

Test match cricket viewers on the decline

This is disturbing.

A survey by media agency Mindshare, which interviewed 2,100 people across the five metros, found that Twenty20 was the favourite format of 76 per cent of the respondents. A surprisingly low 22 per cent picked the 50-over format and a measly 2 per cent Test matches.

If, just 2 percent are interested in Test cricket, then empty stadiums will greet cricketers. They will play largely to the oohs! Aahs! of the connoisseurs and hope to penetrate the mainstream consciousness only during the ‘award’ nite.

If this trend continues very few cricketers will play Test match cricket.

Nel is itching for a 'slap'.

Sreesanth's alter ego ,Andre Nel, seems to be next in line for a 'slap'.

 

Nel playing for Essex was reported by umpires Tim Robinson and Richard Illingworth for two separate Level 2 breaches of the code, each of which attracts a penalty of three points.

 

 A statement from the ECB said the 30-year-old has received the points for "Using language or gesture that is obscene or of a serious insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator".

 

Surely, Nel is readying himself for a slap.

Harbhajan banned

Harbhajan banned from the rest of the inaugural IPL tournament for slapping Sreesanth.

We commend the IPL for doing the right thing.
Now lets hope the BCCI shows him the door.

Harbhajan - Sreesanth 'slap' fall-out

Here are two excellent thoughts on the slapping episode:

 

In the midst of all the chaos, nobody thought of cricket. It was a sad day in the history of Indian cricket with cricketers fighting amongst themselves.

 

Is it related to the decreasing tolerance level among people in general?

 

IPL's dubious distinction?

 

 

Which cricketer deserves a 'slap'?

As a fall-out of the Harbhajan – Sreesanth slap episode, we decided to conduct an informal survey to find out which cricketer deserved a slap in the face.

 

Most Indians indicated Sreesanth as the deserving candidate followed by Clarke and Pieterson.

 

A vast majority of the Australians revealed Harbhajan Singh deserved a slap. The other players who came second and third were Ganguly and Smith.

 

As usual the British, refused to be informal and maintained their stiff upper-lip. The Pakistani's indicated that they prefer to hit rather than slap, whereas the South Africans couldn't make up their minds.

 

The results as you see were not satisfying. So in order to make it more scientific and comprehensive, we request you, our readers to participate enthusiastically.

 

All you have to do is to answer this question, which cricketer deserves a 'slap' and why?

 

The most creative /illogical answer will be selected as the 'winner' by the readers themselves.

 

Happy 'slapping'.

 

EPL will hasten player's burnout

Listing some of the benefits of a Stanford backed EPL, Simon Wilde writes,

 

At a stroke, England's top stars could be enriched by millions of pounds for only a few extra days of work, and crucially saved from burning themselves out playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL),

 

If by burnout he means being burnt by the hot sun playing in India, he has a point. However, if he thinks that playing in the EPL will prevent player burnout, then he is sadly mistaken.

 

What will happen is that, the differing schedules will tempt the English players to 'maximise' their income by playing in both the IPL and the EPL, thereby increasing the chance of player's burnout.

 

Do you agree?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earliest documented cricket injury

As far back as 1751, documents show that Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of George II), expired suddenly from an abscess in his head as a consequence of a blow he'd received from a cricket ball.

 

Is this the earliest documented injury in cricket?

 

 

Is ‘Captaincy’ a passive job?

"A captain always depends on how the team performs”, is a common chant in defense of a struggling Captain.

So how correct is this assumption?

The Free Dictionary defines a Captain as “one who commands, leads or guides others”. An apt definition as unlike other games, a Captain of a cricket team exercises more influence on the game.

In addition, any leader worth his salt knows success is dependent not on the planning but on the implementation.

So putting the onus on the team to deliver the goods is nothing but a blame game. A Captain is wholly responsible for the success or failure of his team and for that, he has to be proactive.


Do you agree?

IPL - On dew and dew controlling measures.

Suddenly, Daljit Singh, Chairman of the BCCI’s Pitches & Grounds Committee seems everywhere.

After discovering ‘sandy’ surface at Eden Gardens and ‘dew’ in Chidambaram Stadium, he has directed all IPL centers to take dew-controlling measures.

However, many of us associate dew with winter, so how do we explain dew during summer?

The fact is it is not dew but surface condensation.

“Surface condensation is the phenomenon by which moisture condenses on visible surfaces. It occurs on surfaces that are at a temperature below the dew point temperature of the inside air.

Surface condensation is caused either by a low surface temperature or a high humidity level in the air. “

From this, it is obvious that the suspected dew is actually condensation formed by high humidity in the air.

“The solution is either to increase the thermal resistance of ground to increase its surface temperature, or to reduce the humidity level.”

Controlling surface condensation in an outdoor stadium is impossible. The alternative is to play cricket in an indoor stadium.

Information on surface condensation sourced from National Research Council Canada.

Why 'pink' balls

We may as well accept that pink balls are here to stay.

IPL should employ bar girls as ‘Cheerleaders’

Actor Politician Shatrughan Sinha agrees with us on the need for ‘native’ cheerleaders.

"If you are so interested in deploying these girls who dance after hits of fours and sixes, it is better to give chance to the bar girls who have been rendered unemployed after Maharashtra government put a ban on dance in bars," Sinha said.

We are justifiably proud of his support.

Mr. Lalit Modi, are you reading this?

Founder, Allen Stanford University for Cricket Bloggers writes an open letter to Lalit Modi.

 

Mr. Modi loosen your purse strings!

Now a fan wants a share of the IPL pie

A novel way to make money: This is a message posted on NDTV's message board and addressed to Preity Zinta.

THIS IS NO JOKE, IF YOU BELEIVE IN INVISIBLE POWER

I am Mehboob Khan, and am approaching your with a very bizarre concept which can benefit you and eventually me too. I am an employee working in Muscat for The Oman Construction Co. LLC for the last 26 years.

Over the years I have realized that I have some exceptional power to make things happen. My casual comments and statements on many things have gone on to become a reality. Initially i thought that it could be just coincidental, but incidence kept on occurring in my life innumerable times that I started to believe that I possess some unique power to materialize notions to reality. I am blessed by the almighty.

I have many incidences that I can describe. Even during the 2003 Cricket World cup all the thoughts that I expressed transpired to be reality. I predicted many incidents of T20 world cup and India's win much in advance. This might amuse you as it has amused many of my friends and colleagues here in Oman.

The purpose of writing this letter to you is to support your team (after the first two losses) in the IPL event with my unique power I can orchestrate your team to be the ultimate winner. I have never approached anyone with this kind of an offer and again this is a perception that has just crept into my mind. Maybe this is the beginning of my new career and you are my path.

Do you think he will succeed?

IPL – Are the cheerleaders doing their job?

The cheerleaders play an "instrumental role in raising, leading and maintaining” team spirit before and during the games. They are not there to flaunt their bodies or gyrate to music. They are there to boost the morale of their team and its supporters.

Sadly, the cheerleaders employed by the IPL franchisees are doing anything but that. One of the main reasons for their inability is that these cheerleaders are ‘imported’. They have no understanding of the game and hence have no feel for the ebb and flow of the game.

This makes them ‘unconnected’ with the supporters. Another factor is that ‘cheerleaders’ are a novel concept and the spectators unused to it, view them more as truncated versions of a bollywood ‘item’ number.

The IPL franchisees should also play their part and stop debasing the concept. They should create a new set of cheerleaders preferably from their catchment areas. Then and only then the cheerleaders can boost the morale of their team and its supporters. Otherwise, they will be "pointless mysteries" who achieved nothing "aside from proving scantily clad women can do two things at once: gyrating while waving their pom-poms about".

Any takers for sari clad cheerleaders.

Some interesting links for aspiring cheerleaders:

When to Cheer and When Not to

The early Cheerleaders were male - Cheerleading of the ’20s: Epitome of masculinity

IPL - How do you account the big hitting and tall scores?

It is too early to see a pattern, but two of the most explosive innings in the IPL, have come from teams playing first. Similarly, the centuries scored so far have been by batsmen playing in the first innings. To take it further, there have been more sixes hit by the team batting first than the team batting second.

Probably the frenetic nature of the format is the reason behind the big hitting. Batsmen have to perforce maximise their shots and have found that hitting it over the infield gives them maximum returns.

However, this does not explain why the chasing team finds it difficult to repeat the power hitting.

The most probable and obvious answer is it could be due to over thinking.

Focusing on the score or the fact that one should win the game often trumps a player’s intuitive response patterns (so-called muscle memory) that allows them to just play their game.

If this is the probable reason, then the utility of the coach is questionable. What is he doing if he cannot prepare his wards?

IPL – What makes the players tick?

Granted, IPL lured the world’s best cricketers with promise of big money. As the format of the game is such no one would have blamed these highly skilled players if they had played with a devil may care attitude. Instead, what we see is that the players despite differing national allegiance have meshed and are playing the game with fervor.

For example let us take yesterdays game between Deccan Chargers and Kolkatta Knight Riders. How do you explain Symonds intransigence during the game?

The truth is Symonds is playing because he cares about the game and his performance. Personal pride makes others like Hopes, McCullum and Hussey to exercise their skills to the maximum and win the game for their team. They hate to be associated with failure.

This makes them not only great cricketers; it will surely make this tournament (IPL) great.

IPL - The 'six' is becoming a bore.

Heavy bats, short boundaries and flat pitches have ensured it is raining 'six' in the IPL

 

However, when we contemplate, these 'six' have no meaning in the larger context of the game. They leave no lasting impact and are mere statistics.

 

So much so one tends to agree when William Rees-Mogg says,

 

"A well-hit six at a critical point in a Test match can indeed come as a thrilling surprise; it is a meaningful part of the struggle, but even a good six can be meaningless by repetition in Twenty20. Sixes can become a bore, like the battues of pheasants by the thousand at Sandringham in the days of King Edward VII. Sixes laid on in Twenty20 matches can be mere satiation. "

 

For a 'six' to be meaningful it has to serve a larger purpose. Do you agree a last ball six that seals the win is worthier than one hit of the first ball?

 

Where is Duncan Fletcher?

Ever wondered why Duncan Fletcher is not a part of IPL.

"Maybe I was asking too much," says Fletcher, "but it was late on and things
were very rushed." A man the IPL could not afford. Now there's a thing. They
want the best players but clearly not the best coaches.

It is debatable whether Duncan Fletcher is one of the world’s best coaches. John Buchanan has a much better record over a longer period.

Similarly, the question of affordability is laughable. Either Fletcher’s self-absorption and pompousness or the inability to agree upon the royalty from his book that is sure to follow, sunk the deal.

ODI scores will exceed 500

The IPL Twenty20 matches have shown even a score of 250 is gettable.

Does it mean ODI scores will exceed 500?

Will IPL transcend India?

Jonathan Coates says that the IPL will engage only the Indian audience.

Frankly, who cares whether it is popular elsewhere. All it matters is how the locals take to the hooch.

What do you think? Will it be as hugely popular among other audience, as it seems destined to be in India?

What to look out for When Chennai Super Kings take on Kings XI Punjab

The Hindu distills today’s match- up as Chennai Super Kings batting Vs Kings XI Punjab’s bowling.

Personally, I am interested in judging Yuvraj’s captaincy and keenly observing Preity Zinta. Will she be more dignified than SRK?

Sadly John’s idol fails to make the cut.


The teams (from):

Chennai Super Kings:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Stephen Fleming, Jacob Oram, Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Joginder Sharma, S. Vidyut, S. Anirudha, R. Ashwin, P. Amarnath, Shadab Jakati, K.B. Arun Karthick, S. Badrinath and Manpreet Gony.

Kings XI Punjab:

Yuvraj Singh (Capt.), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Kyle Mills, Shaun Marsh, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, S. Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, James Hopes, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Luke Pomersbach, Ajitesh Argal, Pankaj Dharmani, Rishi Dhawan, Karan Goel, Uday Kaul, Sahil Kukreja, Wilkin Mota, Nitin Saini, V. R. V. Singh, Sunny Sohal and Tanmay Srivastava.

The mystery behind IPL's missing website solved.

We had earlier reported the IPL website missing.
The truth is otherwise. The IPL website is up and running.
Strangely, it can be found at http://195.20.222.30/index.html
BTW, the URL is perplexing. Can someone explain why it has this strange URL ?

Players revolt against ICC in the offing.

The reason according to the FICA:

The Federation of International Cricketers' Association warned that the players may stage a revolt against the ICC if it continues to be "paralysed" by the BCCI and remains "incompetent" in its handling issues in the sport.

It is difficult to understand how BCCI is to be blamed, for FICA itself admits that “the players have realised their worth after being showered with millions of dollars by the Indian Premier League and its rival Indian Cricket League and feel they are better prepared to handle the game's functioning.”

Have they forgotten that IPL is an offshoot of the BCCI?

It is also lamentable that FICA needed the BCCI to show them their constituents, the player’s worth.

The plain truth is that the FICA like the ICC is a toothless organisation. The talk of player’s revolt is an attempt by FICA to divert attention from its failures.

 

Technorati Tags: FICA,IPL,BCCI,ICC

IPL website goes AWOL

With just hours to the start of the inaugural IPL tournament, the IPL website has disappeared.Click on www.indianpremierleague.com and you get 'HTTP 403 forbidden' message.

IPL - Tendulkar goes against the grain

Asked whether IPL will change the future of cricket, Tendulkar’s reply: 

"I don't think the IPL will change the future but definitely the international calendar will change to accommodate the IPL."  

For one known for bland non-controversial comments, this one is remarkable as it goes against the grain.

IPL needs team rivalries to succeed.

For IPL to succeed there should be genuine and exciting team rivalries. Otherwise, the fans will be bereft of emotional attachment.

I hope a rivalry develops between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers, as they are the two teams that have the perfect mix for the Twenty20 game. In addition, it will give me a chance of seeing VVS Laxman play more frequently in Chennai. J

However, barring a few, most of the players have no allegiance to the team they play. Hence, there is a strong possibility that rivalries may fail to develop.

Which brings me to the question of the day, which teams would you like to play against each other?

Technorati Tags: IPL,Team,rivalry,Deccan Challengers,Chennai Super Kings

Kanpur faces ban

Reacting to Mahanama's report, ICC has sent a letter to the BCCI, seeking an explanation about the pitch used for the third Test between India and South Africa.

If BCCI's explanation fails to convince the ICC, the governing body can even ban Kanpur from hosting international matches

Do you think anything will come off it?

WHO'S PLAYING IN THE IPL

A list of players with their ICC rankings. 

ICC one-day batting rankings: 

1. G Smith (Rajasthan)
2. S Tendulkar (Mumbai)
3. R Ponting (Kolkata)
4. M Hayden (Chennai)
5. M Hussey (Chennai)
6. AB de Villiers (Delhi)
7. MS Dhoni (Chennai)
8. S Chanderpaul (Bang're) 

ODI bowling rankings: 

1. D Vettori (Delhi)
2. N Bracken (Bangalore)
3. C Vaas (Deccan)
4. K Mills (Punjab)
5.. B Lee (Punjab)
6. M Muralitharan (Chennai) 

Source: BBC SPORT

Motivational and Inspirational Corner

Technorati Tags: ODI rankings,ICC rankings,batting,bowling,IPL

Q wonders

Q wonders what the future holds for cricket bloggers.

Read what he has to say about UncleJ.

 

Technorati Tags: Bloggers,cricket,Q,UncleJ

First T20 and now Cheerleaders

The T20 as a concept is a rip off from baseball, the most American of all games. Now one other purely American phenomenon, the cheerleaders are set to take the centre stage in IPL.

Has cricket outgrown its British origin?

IPL franchisees have no need for loyal fans

Most pundits say to succeed, IPL, has to instill city-based loyalty or regional pride among Indian cricket fans. They are doubtful of its success because Indian fans are nationalist. Nevertheless, they have concluded that creating team loyalty is a long haul and have reserved their judgment.

However, lets us examine whether the franchisees need loyal fans to turn profitable.

It is common knowledge that when Indians do not play, cricket matches attract fewer viewers. It is also a fact that most Indians feel their life is in limbo when there are no matches featuring India.

Additionally for a long time now, cricket associations have been making its profit out of television and other peripheral revenue streams. Even Test matches turn profitable because of the money generated through television broadcasting rights.

This is why IPL and its franchisees are sure to succeed. They do not need loyal fans for their teams. They just need to ensure a large TV audience and the BCCI has ensured just that.

By ensuring the Indian team has no International fixtures during the inaugural IPL tournament, the BCCI has created a vacuum. As a result, the cricket starved Indian fan has no recourse to feed his addiction. He will perforce to tune in to watch the IPL matches.

So where is the need to instill city-based loyalty or regional pride?

Is it time to rehabilitate Azharuddin?

At the outset let me make clear that I am not absolving Azharuddin of culpability. However, I felt that Azharuddin was a simple man inadvertently caught in the vortex of match fixing. Maybe forces too powerful sucked him into the abyss or he was compromised and powerless to fight them. Whatever, be it, when another suspect Ajay Jadeja, goes around pontificating on NDTV and struts his stuff on other platforms, why is Azharuddin victimised?

IPL is bigger than the World Cup

IPL is bigger—in terms of sheer logistics activities—than the ICC World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Just look at the enormity of arranging the event.

To begin with, IPL has booked 12,000 hotel nights, 20,000 air tickets and will move at least 1000 people every day. Even during the last World Cup in the West Indies, the total movement over 54 days was six times and in IPL the teams and the officials will be moving 44 times.(Image Courtesy)

To cut the long story short a total 3,000 people including the cricketers will be ferried from one part of India to another.

An overwhelming affair is it not.

Technorati Tags: IPL,Cricket,ICC World Cup,Logistics,Organising

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IPL commentators' list:

Set Max has decided upon its combination of commentators for the IPL

Group 1: Rameez Raja, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan , Robin Jackman and Ravi Shastri

Group 2: Greg Chappell, Ranjit Fernando, Aamer Sohail, Ian Bishop and Damien Fleming

Group 3: Sunil Gavaskar, Arun Lal, Pommie Mbangwa, Tony Cozier and Danny Morrison.

However, my ideal combination is Tony Cozier, Ian Bishop, Ravi Shastri, Greg Chapell and Damien Fleming.

Which is your ideal combination?

Poor ticket response has SRK worried

Atleast one IPL franchisee owner is worried.

 

"I am a bit surprised as to why, despite keeping the ticket prices low, people are not showing any interest," a puzzled SRK asked.

 

SRK is confusing his cinema releases with cricket tournaments. He should stop worrying about first day collections and concentrate on his team performance. The fans are sure to come if quality cricket is on display.

 

After all cricket fans are a discerning lot. Unlike his films, they would like to assure themselves that the outcome matches the hype.

 

 

Can IPL mend relationship between Australia and India?

Australia's cricketers are likely to use their stints in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to mend the fractured relationship between them and India.

 

Of course playing together in the IPL will help in healing the hurt between Indian and Australian cricketers.

 

However, it is doubtful whether it will create a positive image about them in the eyes of the Indian fans. To convince them that they are not wolves in sheep clothing, the Australians have to carry over the same behaviour during the upcoming India - Australia Test series.

 

Can the Australians convince the Indians fans with how they play in the IPL?   

Shoaib best reverse swing delivery

I assumed that Shoaib has cooked his own goose by making ill-considered statements on GeoTV.

 

However, he seemd to have bowled the ACSU neck and crop.

 

Reuters reports:

 

The source said Shoaib had told the ACSU that the approaches occurred in 1998, a couple of years before the ICC formed its anti-corruption unit.

 

"Shoaib also told him that he might have got some dates and facts wrong because he was very angry and upset when he made the claims on television shortly after being banned by the Pakistan board for indiscipline," the source said.

 

Is it Shoaib's best reverse swinger as on date? 

The final list of IPL sponsors on Sony Set Max

Set Max has tied up with Vodafone and Hyundai as presenters. Coca-Cola, Max New York Life, and Godrej Appliances as associates..

 

Will the lack of 'Team India' spirit matter?

In spite of the initial excitement around the tournament, media observers are almost unanimous in their opinion that the one thing that the IPL teams lack is 'Team India' spirit.

 

Does it matter?

 

Why are easy catches difficult?

Why are easy catches difficult?

 

A study finds why easy catches, those that go up in the air either of a top edge or of a miss-hit, are difficult to catch. Their conclusion:

 

"generates a rotating sheath of air around the ball that results in a curved and unpredictable trajectory."

 

Uh! I would rather drop an easy catch than try to understand why I dropped it.

 

Sachin = self-interest

One suspects that Sachin's attempt to play the first test against South Africa when he was unfit was to fool the cricket loving public into believing that he picked the injury during the game. What he has done by playing in the Chepauk Test is to buy time to be fit for the IPL.

 

Instead of taking him to task for declaring himself fit when he was not, the BCCI is happy to announce that he will regain fitness in time for the inaugural IPL tournament.

 

In his recent interviews, Sachin says he wants to win a World Cup and makes it a point to state that as he is unsure of his fitness and henceforth he will take it one game at a time.

 

By stating his aim of winning a World Cup, Sachin has prepared the ground for prolonging his career and by saying that he will take it one game at a time he is saying that he will pick and choose matches to play.

 

This leaves team India at his mercy. The public has been conned to such an extent that from now on when Sachin declares himself fit, the selectors will have to select him and similarly when he declares he is unfit they will have to drop him. Otherwise, India will go up in flames and the selectors and cricketers will have to face angry mobs wherever they go.

 

The pity is the organisation that should have seen through Sachin's ploy is hand in glove with him. It is obvious that Sachin has only his interest at heart.

Legalise betting in Cricket - Bindra

Inder Singh Bindra (BCCI) wants to the Indian Government to legalise cricket betting. The justification being "it will not only eliminate things like match fixing but also generate huge revenue for the government in millions. It is in the interest of the government,'

What he fails to mention is that by legalizing betting BCCI can milk another revenue generation avenue dry.

However, legalising betting will have an unintended fall out :it will bring more followers to the game, albeit for the wrong reasons.

IPL Franchisee’s Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Mohali , Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur Team Logos

Custom logo and web design service - Special Deal for your Business

Delhi (IPL) Daredevils

Bangalore(IPL) Royal Challengers

Chennai (IPL) Super Kings

Deccan (Hyderabad IPL) Chargers

Kolkata (IPL) Knight Riders

Mohali(IPL) Kings XI Punjab

Mumbai(IPL) Indians

Jaipur (IPL) Rajasthan Royals

Hat tip:

Abhinav Sharma

del.icio.us Tags: IPL,Team,Logo,Chennai,Mumbai,Delhi,Kolkatta,Hyderabad,Jaipur,Mohali,Bangalore,Franchisee

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Standing up to the BCCI is not enough.

Q makes an impassioned plea:

All the national cricket boards need to come together and stand up to the BCCI. They need to let the BCCI know that they are at a loss since they are not getting a share of IPL revenues and at the same time they are losing cricketers to the ICL because of their support to the BCCI. I hope that sanity prevails and the boards don't go for a cut in IPL revenues as opposed to having their domestic cricketers back.

However, standing up to the BCCI is not enough. The cricketing associations should rid themselves of nepotism, regional factions, prejudice and select players purely on merit. They should ensure that players get a fair share of the profits and give them a fair representation in the board.

If team selection is on merit, a player’s first priority will be to play for the honour of representing his country and then only then he will play for money (ICL/IPL).

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IPL announces dates for next season

Hardly ten days ago Lalit Modi was expressing hopelessness about IPL’s longevity. He was saying that without a window in the FTP, IPL would find it difficult to stage the next edition.

One concludes with the announcement of next year IPL competition, tentatively fixed from April 10 to May 29, negotiation on the FTP is on and rescheduling is in the offing.

Technorati Tags: cricket,IPL,India,New season,second edition

Derbyshire to spend £100,000 to rotate the pitch

I strongly suggest that Derbyshire sue the architect.

 

Derbyshire have admitted defeat in their battle against the sun and will spend £100,000 on rotating their square at the County Ground through 90 degrees at the end of the season to ensure that play is no longer halted by the setting sun behind the bowler's arm.

 

Either the architect has never played cricket or worse the administrators have not. If one of them did play cricket they would have certainly considered the setting sun.