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?
13/04/2008
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.
12/04/2008
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.
11/04/2008
Can IPL mend relationship between Australia 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
Can the Australians convince the Indians fans with how they play in the IPL?
10/04/2008
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
The final list of IPL sponsors on Sony Set Max
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
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
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.
09/04/2008
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:
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).
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.
08/04/2008
Derbyshire to spend £100,000 to rotate the pitch
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.
ICC officials in Pak to question Akhtar
The noose tightens:
PTI reports that two officers of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) are in the country to question banned pacer Shaoib Akhtar on his claims of being approached by match fixers during tours of
It will be interesting to watch how Shoaib Akthar will back his tall claims.
FTP to accommodate IPL - ICC
For all the negative talk and supposed fears of IPL overrunning other forms of the game, ICC is inclined to accommodate it.
Newly appointed International Cricket Council chief executive officer, Haroon Lorgat has hinted that the international cricket calendar may be revised to make room for the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).
Haroon Lorgat seems a fast mover.
Haroon Lorgat - Australia's dominance on the decline.
We, meaning quiet a few of us in the blogoshere, have been crying ourselves hoarse that the days of
THE future of international cricket will include a revised international schedule, a stronger Zimbabwe team, improved technology for umpires and a decline in Australia's on-field dominance, according to incoming International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat.
It is also interesting to note that in his former role as chief selector with
Seriously, I think he has all the makings of another Niranjan Shah.
07/04/2008
Is Pietersen holding his Willey?
I find his pose vaguely suggestive, but for the life of me can't put my finger on it.
Can someone help me out with their suggestions?
Hat Tip: Bubbleonfire
West Indies wins Second Test by six wickets
Second Test,
Given their recent history, it is a heart-warming win. This is sure to revive hope and debate at various cricketing forums.
Yousuf may return to ICL
Miffed with the IPL, Mohammed Yousuf may return to ICL. Umar Gul and Yasir Hameed may follow suit.
Yousuf and Gul have a long career ahead of them with
Probably their unhappiness with the PCB makes ICL more appealing.
.
06/04/2008
Second Digicel Test - Will the West Indies win or will they lose?
However, the final equation is out.
My money is on the
Pieterson wants a share of the IPL pie.
The English cricketers have always been the first to run after money (remember the apartheid series) and hence one knew it was just a matter of time before one of them broke ranks.
True to character, Pieterson has come out in favor of playing for the IPL (money).His earlier statements that he rejected an offer to play in the IPL now sound hollow.
05/04/2008
The Chennai Super Kings website.
The Chennai Super Kings website is up and running. The basics are just right; however, it will be interesting to watch how they develop the Fanzone and Stores (both are under construction). In all probability, the Fanzone will be a cricketing forum geared to Chennai Super Kings fans.
However, one gets the impression that the website purpose is to provide information and lack the niftiness to enable online sales.
BCCI asked ICC to investigate Shoaib.
This is indeed news. I was under the impression that the ICC was investigating Shoaib on its own.
It turns out that the BCCI formally asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ascertain the speedster's claim.
That interview on GeoTV is certainly helping Shoaib win many friends.
New ICC CEO wants more nations playing Tests.
Increasing the number of Test playing nations will prove counter- productive.
Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive-elect of the International Cricket Council, said "It would be a very good personal goal to try and make sure that we get the test-playing nations beyond 10,"
Interest in Test cricket is faltering due to the mismatch of the teams. As a result none of the top 4 nations want to play Test cricket with teams like
Instead of increasing the number of Test playing nations cricket will be better served, if Haroon Lorgat concentrates on bringing the languishing teams up to speed.
04/04/2008
Haroon Lorgat is the new CEO of ICC
Congratulations and may God give you the strength to with stand the might of BCCI.
Day 2 Motera Test - Rain stops play
The weather Gods have decided to intervene.
The eternal optimist Straight Point asks" is this the stroke of luck
Mr. Shoaib the ICC would like to have a word with you
In an interview to Geo TV, Shoaib had made some astounding allegations out of which two has resulted in unpleasant outcome. He had alleged that he was being victimised by the PCB and he was approached by bookies to throw matches.
There was an immediate reaction from the PCB - they sued him and also prevailed upon the BCCI to ban Shoaib from IPL.
Today the ICC has indicated that they would like to find out the veracity of his statements about the bookies which is actually bad news for Shoaib.
The ICC player's code of conduct says that a player should report all such "approaches made to them by a bookmaker or any other corrupt approach to their captain, team manager, a senior board official or to the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit". Failure to do so - hold your breath can result in a ban for 5 years.
If the ICC finds out that he spoke the truth he will earn a ban of 5 years and if it find out otherwise it means Shoaib will become an object of ridicule in the eyes of the cricketing world.
This has put Shoaib between the proverbial 'devil and the deep sea'. Whatever the outcome he is doomed.
Motera Test - Can India prevail?
Over at cricketstatistics, arjwiz provides us with hope.
He says that "There have been FIVE instances in the history of test cricket when a team batting first scored less than 100, and went on to win the test."
Let us hope we make the Motera Test, the sixth instance in history of Test cricket.
Dale Steyn takes a dig at Kirsten
It is obvious that the South Africans have not taken kindly to Kirsten coaching
"I am not too surprised. That's the vibe they have given off to us. Once one or two wickets fall and things kind of go wrong they are pretty weak and the batsmen to follow didn't look they knew what they wanted to do. They didn't have a game plan or strategy. They were bowled out for 76 and, I guess, that's what happens when you don't have a game plan or strategy," .
The key words here are the words 'weak' – a dig at Upton the mental strength conditioner, 'game plan', and 'strategy', which is a dig at
The support staffs of a cricket team feature rarely during a post match press meet and on top of it Kirsten has been keeping a low profile. So why did Steyn take a swipe? The fact is the mere presence of Kirsten in the Indian team rankles and despite assurance they are wary that their weaknesses will be used against them.
03/04/2008
IPL imposes media restrictions.
At first glance, the restrictions seem draconian and unreasonable.
The conditions include the IPL's right to use all pictures taken at its grounds for free and without restrictions; the commitment by news organisations to upload on the IPL site, within 24 hours, all images taken at the ground; and the restriction of web portals' access to images without prior permission from the IPL.
Hidden in the legalese is a simple fact that IPL is only asking for access to images free for its website and restricting access to other web portals without permission.
It is also pertinent to note that the media barring SONY, the television broadcaster, need not pay single paisa as royalty.
Then why are the news networks crying foul and threatening a boycott?
Shoaib's goose cooked?
Shoaib Akthar cannot play in the IPL until he serves out his ban or until his ban is revoked on appeal.
The PCB strikes back?
No escaping the law of averages
India batting collapsed signaling an end to a glorious run of scores starting in England. Agreed, we had batting collapses in England and Australia but 76 all out is the worst.
As such, there is no need to berate the Indian batting; it is just that the law of averages caught up with them. One batting collapse was due and now it is over and done with.
As Anil Kumble’s fitness is still doubtful and Harbhajan plainly fading it is time for Sreesanth, RP Singh and Irfan to come to the party and restrict the South Africans to reasonable score. From then on, our batting might will take the load.
Shoaib claims bookies approached him
As expected, Shoaib Akthar has turned to match fixing to show his commitment to the game and his country.
"I have rejected many offers to underperform. It happened in Johannesburg and India but I never accepted them as I can't betray my country," Shoaib said in an interview to Geo TV. "And what do I get in return - a five-year ban the example of which you don't get anywhere in the cricket world. Even players who were fined and found involved in match-fixing issues didn't get such bans."
Shoaib knows that this will set of a clamour and a fear 
that he will stop nothing short of naming names and spreading slander.
With the sub continents penchant for over reactions his yet unsubstantiated allegations could start a witch-hunt and ruin the careers of quiet a few innocent cricketers.
Do you believe there is truth in his allegations? On the other hand, will the PCB buckle under pressure?
02/04/2008
South African's accuse Indian cricket press of bias
Worse, they say that we picked it up from the Australians.
Australia has traditionally been the home of a particularly loathsome brand of a biased press and it seems this may be outsourced to India, soon to be known as the new haven for double-talk in triplicate.
Cricketing fans are concerned. The DTT Virus (double-talk in triplicate) has mutated and a strain has found its way to
I do not mind them accusing us of bias it is the comparison with the Australians that puts me off.
01/04/2008
Shoaib Akthar banned for 5 years but he can appeal
Shoaib Akthar's runs out of luck. PCB's disciplinary committee banned him for 5 years for violating the player's code of conduct.
In true 'sub-continental' fashion, this ban is neither total nor final. This ban is not total because he can still play for IPL and the ban is not final as he can still appeal this ban.
If PCB's intention is to 'shock' Shoaib back to his sense, in all probability his ban will be overturned on appeal, but if they are fed up with his brink-manship, it could well mean 'curtains' for his career.
Let us hope the shock brings him back to his senses and he successfully appeals his ban.
Does South Africa hold a psychological edge?
Can someone explain what is a psychological advantage?
31/03/2008
Imtiaz Patel cites family, friends and country for opting out
Imtiaz Patel, opts out:
"My family and I have reflected deeply on the wonderful opportunity which the ICC presented to me to fulfil such an important role in a sport that is in my blood. After considering my position carefully, I have, however, resolved to remain in my beloved country,
It is intriguing that people cite family, friends and country when they opt out of a job. Surely interested parties would have sounded him out, before forwarding his candidature.
Don't they consult family and friends before applying or is it an excuse for having second thoughts?
What is the rationale behind Kaif's recall?
Mohammed Kaif's makes a deserved return to the Indian cricket team on the back of excellent performances in the domestic tournaments.
However, he is unlikely to make it to the final eleven. Yuvraj despite repeated failures in Tests in all probability will play in the place of Tendulkar.
It is an enigma that players like Kaif or Murali Karthick have never given a sustained run in the Indian team. They are either selected and do not play or they are dropped after putting in an excellent performance.
Therefore, the rationale behind his selection when he has no chance of playing is debatable. Would not it be better to select some promising player who has never had the opportunity to soak in the Test atmosphere?
30/03/2008
Gloster fitness report, fitness test and fitness
The outgoing physio John Gloster had mentioned a long list of players who were carrying injuries. He had also recommended various periods of rest according to the nature of the injuries.
To assure itself that the players were fit; the BCCI conducted a fitness test for all the players. They are certified fit and selected for the first two Tests.
However, on the first day itself the fitness test revealed itself as a sham. R.P. Singh’s bowling and fielding revealed that he was unfit. Tendulkar missed part of the game during the first, second and the third days play. Kumble missed two sessions on the final day.
Even though various reasons can and will be attributed to their injuries it is patently obvious that these players were carrying injuries into the game. Then how did they pass the fitness test?
Actually, there was a lot of truth in John Glosters report and the BCCI used the fitness test as a smoke screen to divert attention. Sickeningly, the BCCI used the report to deny selection to a few.
However, it pains a keen Indian fan to learn about Kumble’s and Tendulkar’s complicity.
Chennai IPL franchisee goes about its job quietly.
The owners of the Chennai Super Kings team have gone about tying up with sponsors with typical South Indian restraint.
They have gone for a judicious mix of cricket with the glamour of Tamil cinema by signing up the former Indian team Captain and a media personality K.Srikkanth along with the leading actors in Tamil cinema Vijay and Nayanthara as brand ambassadors.
They have also shown considerable business acumen by signing Aircell Cellular Services, a leading mobile phone service provider as team sponsor along with Reebok as team apparel sponsors.
It is obvious that the Indian Cements group has a head start over the other IPL franchisees and chosen subtlety over hype.
Mustaq and Rana a 'test' case for both IPL and the ICL
The participation of the
Until now cricketers associated with the rebel league ICL have been treated as 'non-entities' and denied opportunities to play in other major tournaments.
The PCB by issuing 'NOC' to these players has set the cat among the pigeons and opened the door for them to play in county cricket.
In effect it challenges the very core of BCCI's 'understanding' with other cricket boards regarding the ICL players.
For the ICL ,the PCB has given them reason to believe that their tournament and their players are gaining wider acceptance.
Yousuf ruled out of the inaugural IPL?
Yousuf is unlikely to get out of the legal tangle with ICL until the end of April. This effectively rules him out of a major part of the inaugural IPL as it starts by April 18.
Moreover, even if the arbitration panel decides in his favour, ICL is likely to throw other legal challenges in his way and deny even a token participation..
It is a pity that an impulsive decision has cost Yousuf an opportunity to play in the big stage.
29/03/2008
Why is the PCB going around with a begging bowl?
The alarm bells have never stopped ringing in Pakistan’s political and cricketing establishment since Australia postponed its tour of Pakistan citing security reasons,
So much so, it has driven the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to announce one tour or the other on a daily basis. Everyday there is an announcement that one country or the other will tour Pakistan only to be followed by a rebuttal by the said country.
Initial impressions were that PCB was trying to recoup its loss suffered by the postponement of Australia’s tour to Pakistan. However, the truth is PCB at the behest of its political masters is hell bent on a tour in order to show the world that Pakistan is a stable country.
Sadly, the PCB by its ham handedness has only managed to show its country, its people and its cricketers in poor light.
One is even driven to ask the PCB to stop using its cricketers and the glorious game of cricket to make political statements.
What do you say?
28/03/2008
Can Virender Sehwag break Lara’s record?
Virender Sehwag’s 300 from 278 balls is in terms of the number of balls the fastest triple-century in Test history.
If Sehwag scores another 91 runs on Saturday, he will overhaul Lara’s 400 not out against England in Antigua in 1994.
Going by today’s blistering form, a well- rested Sehwag in all probability should be able to do it on Saturday.
However, can he do it?
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