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

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

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

Technorati Tags: IPL,Team,Logo,Chennai,Mumbai,Delhi,Kolkatta,Hyderabad,Jaipur,Mohali,Bangalore,Franchisee

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).

Technorati Tags: BCCI,PCB,IPL,ICL,team,selectors,cricket

IceRocket Tags: BCCI,PCB,IPL,ICL,team,selectors,cricket

del.icio.us Tags: BCCI,PCB,IPL,ICL,team,selectors,cricket

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.

 

 

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 India and South Africa.

 

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 Australia's dominance are over. Now hear it from the horse's mouth.

 

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 South Africa, Lorgat once infamously described the Australian team as "very ordinary".

 

Seriously, I think he has all the makings of another Niranjan Shah.

 

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

Technorati Tags: Pieteersen,Photo,Cricket,Practice,Willey

West Indies wins Second Test by six wickets

Second Test, Trinidad: West Indies 294 & 254-4 beat Sri Lanka 278 and 268 by six wickets and seals a series draw.

 

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 Pakistan, then why are they willing to throw away their International careers?

 

Probably their unhappiness with the PCB makes ICL more appealing.

 

.

 

Second Digicel Test - Will the West Indies win or will they lose?

Sri Lanka and West Indies are playing out an exciting Test match. For once the Sri Lankan's have struggled to impose themselves.

 

However, the final equation is out. West Indies need to score 253 runs over two days to win and tie the Digicel Test series. As usual, Muralitharan could be the difference.

 

My money is on the West Indies. Where do you place your money?

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.

 

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.

 

Sachin’s first Interview

This interview dates back to 1989. Is this his first interview?




Hat Tip: indiancricketfans

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 Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and to a certain extent West Indies and New Zealand. Even if they do the difference is so huge that matches end up being one-sided and a means to establish personal and world records,

 

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.

 

 

Haroon Lorgat is the new CEO of ICC

Haroon Lorgat will take over from the current CEO, Malcolm Speed.

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.

 

South Africa was 494 for seven in their first innings, in reply to India's 76, when rain stopped play on the second day of the second cricket Test between India and South Africa.

 

The eternal optimist Straight Point asks" is this the stroke of luck india needs?? "

 

 

 

 

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.

 

There is only one way out for Shoaib, he should go the whole hog and name names it will surely set off another round of investigations and witch hunt. Altogether a most unseemly affair. 

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.

This streaker is an 'obnoxious weed'

Hat tip: The Village Cricketer

Dale Steyn takes a dig at Kirsten

It is obvious that the South Africans have not taken kindly to Kirsten coaching India. Their dislike comes out plainly at Dale Steyn's post match press conference.

"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 Kirsten, India's coach.

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.

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.

Technorati Tags: India,South Africa,Test,Motera,Batting collapse

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?

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 India from Australia apparently somewhere towards the end of the 'season of spite.' This runaway epidemic sees the Indian media replicating Aussie-style slant at an unstoppable rate. There is no cure in sight and the prognosis is desperate

 

I do not mind them accusing us of bias it is the comparison with the Australians that puts me off.

 

 

 

Heavy duty shaking.

My attempt to enliven the cricket world.

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?

South Africa hold psychological edge over India

 

Can someone explain what is a psychological advantage?