Knights Knock Warriors

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have this knack of bringing hype and anticipation, whenever they come out to the field. This 56^th game of Indian premier league had the distinction of being the first “dead rubber” of otherwise, entertaining sixth edition of the million dollar baby of BCCI. The struggling Pune Warriors still have no retort to their woes.

Devoted Fans, who filled the Subroto Rai Sahara stadium again returned dejected with 11^th defeat of their heroes. Although Pune Warriors had every chance of getting away with what knights had offered them.

Defending champions have only “if” at their side

 

Modi denies dumping reports

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi pooh-poohed reports circulating in a section of the media that he is being eased out of the cricket’s biggest money-spinner.

Chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi gestures during a news conference of the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament

Talking to IANS from Germany, Modi said there was no truth in “these planted stories” as he was appointed by the cricket board’s general body for five years to run the IPL.

“Also, there’s no truth in the report that the post of IPL commissioner is being abolished,” he insisted.

IPL vice-chairman Niranjan Shah, too, indignantly refuted the so-called move, saying that someone was trying to play a prank and the media fell hook, line and sinker for the bait. “How can anyone believe such trash without giving it a thought?” he shot back.

Another senior board official, not wanting to be dragged into the unsavoury controversy nor wishing to be identified, told IANS that there was not even discussion on the subject at any of the recent board meetings.

“Yes, some months ago, there was some loud thinking whether the chairman and commissioner’s posts be delinked but there was no serious discussion. One suggestion was that the board president should be the IPL chairman,” said the board insider.

The official said that someone tried to link the development with the recent Rajasthan Cricket Association election, in which Modi was defeated by union Rural Development Minister C.P.Joshi.

Modi worked out the modalities of IPL during the tenure of Sharad Pawar and it became a huge commercial success.

He is also the chairman of the Champions League that draws the best Twenty20 teams of the cricketing world.

Delhi Dare Devils vs Rajasthan Royals :Preview

After amazing performance in the Inaugural season of IPL, Defending Champions performance has nose Dived at the new venue of Indian Premiere League season two.

AB de Villiers

Led by legend Shane Warne, Royals have so far played four games in the tournament; loosing the opener against Bangalore Royal Challengers by 75 runs,luckily next game against Mumbai Indians was washed and in the battle against Punjab, king’s easily defended their score of 139, restricting Rajasthan to 112.

Their only victory came against the otherwise struggling Knight Riders who too gave them run for the victory, taking the game to super over, thanks toY Pathan who displayed his killer capabilities and won the game for his team.

Batting has been the concern for Rajasthan Royals as apart from experienced G Smith and T Henderson the youngsters S Asondkar, NK Patel have failed to deliver on the tracks favoring technique.

Though Rajasthan is blessed with the likes of Yousuf Pathan, T Henderson and R Jadeja who are a delight to watch when in flow but have so far made no impact.

Bowling has always been the strength of Rajasthan Royals. They have the likes of sensational Kaamran Khan, A Mascarenhas, S African T Henderson and Munaf Patel.

Whereas invincible Delhi Dare Devils have displayed their nerves of steel and are unbeaten so far in the tournament. Devils began their previous IPL campaign with style but their performance nose dived as the tournament progressed and will try hard to carry forward their winning streak.

Dare Devils are blessed with the likes of  G Gambhir, V Sehwag and AB Devillers whose  maiden century of  IPL season Two against Chennai Super Kings kept the team in winning momentum. T Dilshan has proved to be the best buy for Delhi and is a delight to watch capable of doing wonders with both bat and cherry.

Daniel Vettori has been the key to dare Devils Success in South Africa supported by Y Mahesh, AM Salvi and P Sangwan.

Delhi is a perfectly balanced side and will be the favorites against Rajasthan Royals who will go all guns into the game as it would decide their fate in the tournament.

Mallya Desired England As IPL Venue

Liquor baron and owner of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, Vijay Mallya, has said that he would have preferred England to host the second season of the Indian Premier League.

Vija Mallya and Lalit Modi

The Twenty20 competition was moved out of India because of a clash of dates with general elections and the IPL organisers sealed a deal to organise the event in South Africa.

“To be honest, I would have preferred England to South Africa,” the Daily Express quoted Mallya, as saying.

Mallya agreed that there is a huge possibility of rain disruptions; but he believed the tournament would have drawn bigger crowds in England.

“You could have taken just one flight from five or six cities in India to England and it would have been cheaper. Besides, an average Englishman loves his cricket and the stands there would have been full of spectators. But, I guess the weather conditions clinched the issue for South Africa,” he said.

For Complete news visit : www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2468/Mallya-Desired-England-As-IPL-Venue.htm

Indian Fans Disappointed

The change in venue for the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has brought disappointment to the Indians who were batting for the Twenty20 competition being played in India.

Fans Enjoying Cricket

“It is like imagining Wimbledon in England, Australian Open tennis, or the UFA cups being played abroad. The charm of an Indian event has gone. It has become a television event,” said Diana Edulji, former Indian women”s Test cricketer.

Jitender Kumar, a cricket coach, said: “It will send out a wrong message to the world that such a big country like ours could not provide security to a sporting event. I believe it would have been better if IPL would have been held in India.”

Disappointment was writ large on the faces of young cricket enthusiasts who felt that IPL should be hosted in India as very few matches are played on Indian soil.

For Complete news visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2463/Indians-Disappointed.htm

TV Rights Not Weather, Took IPL Away

Television rights and not the weather, it appears convinced Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi to chose South Africa instead of England for the second edition of the twenty20 tournament.

Lalit Modi,chairman IPL and(CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola

According to The Independent, Modi did not bother going on to London as initially planned to hear a pitch from the England and Wales Cricket Board for staging the game’s most lucrative competition.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India became less enthusiastic about hosting the event in Britain when they realised that apart from the bad weather in April and May, there may also encounter problems with broadcasting rights and revenue.

For complete news visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2446/TV-Rights-Not-Weather,-Took-IPL-Away.htm

England in line to host IPL

England is most likely to host the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) 2009 edition after South African Chief Gerald Majola revealed that his country is not the first choice for organizers.

Convenor of IPL Lalit Modi is likely to arrive in London on Monday to hold further discussions with England and Wales Cricket Board to draft out ways which will fit twenty20 tournament around the county season.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi,Shilpa Shetty and Priety Zinta

England and South Africa are the primary two venues where IPL is likely to be played, but it seems BCCI prefers former for its huge Asian crowd.

“England is a very attractive venue,” Modi told The Daily Telegraph.

Board of Control for Cricket in India, contacted ECB and insisted for a decision to be made as soon as possible to check the practicability of hosting IPL on such short notice.

ECB, chief executive David Collier will fly back to England to meet IPL officials on Wednesday or Thursday.

Speaking to British media giant, Sky Collier clarified, “We have opened up discussions with the BCCI and IPL with the last 36 hours and we’ll be continuing those discussions in the middle of this week-and then we’ll be reporting to our board at the back end of the week.

“Clearly with only three weeks to go to the start of the competition, I think all parties recognize an early decision has to be made.”

For Complete news Visit :www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2383/England-Most-Likely-To-Host-IPL.htm

IPL Rescheduled

India’s cricket board is looking to reschedule its popular Twenty20 league after the government, worried by Tuesday’s attack in Lahore, said the security forces would be preoccupied with general elections.

Rajasthan Royal

Six members of the Sri Lanka team and a coach were wounded when gunmen attacked their bus in Pakistan, heightening security concerns for the league involving many international players and due to be staged between April 10 and May 24.

The league had been looking to rework dates for some of the games because it would have clashed with the poll, a multi-phased affair to help deploy security forces for the massive exercise.

India goes to the polls between April 16 and May 13 with the votes to be counted three days later.

Indian Home (interior) Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said he had asked the senior-most bureaucrat to discuss the issue with cricket officials.

“I have spoken to the home secretary and asked him to get in touch with the (league) organisers to find out if the schedule can be adjusted,” Chidambaram told CNN-IBN channel.

He added: “Cricket in India will be safe. We will provide security. Only that (whether) the dates are adjusted so that our security forces are not stretched.”

The franchise league drew big crowds in its inaugural edition in 2008.

For Complete News Visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/1782/IPL-Rescheduled.htm

Flintoff to Confront ECB

England all rounder Andrew Flintoff could be heading for a showdown with ECB bosses over playing in the Indian Premier League.

andrew-flintoff

reddie, 31, is struggling with a hip problem that will keep him out of Thursday’s Fourth Test against West Indies and maybe more matches.

ECB chief executive David Collier confirmed that the board has the power to withdraw Flintoff from the IPL on medical grounds.

Flintoff has been signed up by the Chennai Super Kings for a record price of 1.55 million pounds, making him the joint most valuable cricketer in history with Kevin Pietersen.

The ECB have agreed to a three-week IPL window for England’s Test players starting on April 10 so, in reality, he will receive around 540,000 pounds from the Chennai Super Kings.

Collier said: “We’d be concerned if any player was carrying an injury that may affect his participation in the Ashes. There are medical clauses in Andrew’s contract. The IPL are very responsible in that area.”

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