please do not be such a drama queen!

http://www.cricinfo.com/asia2010/content/current/story/464245.html

There is no denying the fact that Bangladesh cricket team lost the match very badly against Pakistan cricket team. But I am totally disagree with you on this point "In affectionate remembrance of ODI cricket, which was killed by Bangladesh at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium".

I am really shocked that you totally blame on Bangladesh cricket team on a large scale. They lost one match in utter humiliation and you only want to blame them for the large flaw inside the ODI system and cricket administration.

Bangladesh cricket team come here from middle of the England tour and has to go back England for the rest of the tour. It is quite challenging for any subcontinent team to go England and play descent cricket because of the weather and lively pitch. Consider the temperature now in England 20C but in SriLanka the temperature is 35C. It is very difficult for any team to adjust quickly.

Now, why this is happening? Because of the busyness of the schedule. There is a fixed time slot for the 'wretched' IPL but there is no time slot available for ASIA cup. Because the top ranking Asian countries do not earn much money from ASIA cup. Cricket schedule is so full now because of the twenty20 cricket. The ICC has no guts to stop this nonsense because of the pressure from corrupted cricket administrators. Even we (audience) also forget what is good or bad. IPL match clearly has no excitement because there is not enough quality players and no nationality involved but we have to accept it as a excitement fiesta because of the thousand line written every day by the journalists. They create a virtual reality that this is best of the best which is actually below par. This fiasco creates a negative impact on the audience and they no longer want to see cricket. But unfortunately this fact is always under the veil.

The main dangerous thing is that the cricket administrators do not want to decrease the total number of matches. On the other hand they are not afraid of changing the game rules. Experiment is not bad but over experiment is not appreciable. Consider the 3rd power play rule. This rule is only created for only team strong batting line up. This rule never gives any advantage to the weak teams which is against the spirit of the game. Excitement is part of the game and we all want some excitement from the game because probably we are dissatisfied of our own life. But we must also accept that not every match will be nail biting finish. If this becomes a common routine then where is the excitement.

So, Mr. Sidharth Monga please do not be such a drama queen! Observe the picture in bigger scale.

Who love IPL?

Tamim praises coach for encouraging play

Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal believes team coach Jamie Siddons' commitment to flair play has allowed him to flourish against England.

Tamim was unsure whether his attacking style might need to be modified when he began his Test career, but the left-handed opener has been in fine form over the last few months after being told by Siddons to go with his natural instincts.

The 21-year-old has responded to the Australian's advice with five half-centuries in six Test innings against England, culminating in a rapid second-innings hundred at Lord's last weekend.

"When I started playing Test cricket I was in two minds whether to go slow or go fast -- and originally I decided to go slow," Tamim said on Wednesday.

"It was not working for me. The first 10 Tests were not good -- I think I only got two fifties. The coaches said to play like I do in the ODIs and enjoy my batting -- 'We will not say anything to you'.

"I know the way I bat sometimes looks fantastic, sometimes looks ugly, especially if I try to smash the first ball and get caught in the slips, but I am happy with the way I play my natural game.

"If I don't score, that's fine with me because I want to play like this."

Bangladesh eventually lost the first Test but will have been encouraged by their gutsy display heading into the second Test, which starts at Old Trafford on Friday.

Although they have won just three of 67 Tests, Tamim remains optimistic they can spring a surprise in Manchester.

"Our main strength in bowling is spin, and there was nothing in the wicket at Lord's," he said.

"So we hope Old Trafford will be better for us. We have (captain) Shakib (Al Hasan) -- who is one of the best in the world -- and if he bowls well we can do better."

If Tamim frustrates the opposition along the way, it is unlikely to bother him and neither will he be put off if he encounters any sledging.

"There was some chat (at Lord's)," he said.

"But that was just part of the game -- and anyway I like to talk when I am batting. It happens in every match, and I was loving it."

England cruise against Bangladesh bowling

England eased to 105 for one at lunch against some undemanding Bangladesh bowling after being asked to bat first on the opening day of the first test at Lord's on Thursday.

Andrew Strauss, returning as captain after taking a break from the game during the away series against the same opponents this year, took 14 balls to get off the mark.

His second scoring stroke was a six over mid-wicket off debutant medium-pacer Robiul Islam and, although his timing was sometimes awry after his slow start to the county season, he was still at the crease at the interval with 40.

Jonathan Trott, whose place is under pressure after he first struggled in his native South Africa and was then tied down by the spinners in Bangladesh, played with authority from the start.

He steered his third delivery for four behind point and moved confidently on to the front foot to drive two further boundaries through the off-side. At lunch he had scored an even half-century with five boundaries.

Alastair Cook, who captained England in Bangladesh in Strauss's absence, struck the first boundary of the day, a confident off-drive to the Pavilion boundary. But he had made only three more when he was lbw to Shahadat Hossain pushing half-forward.

That was to prove Bangladesh's only success of the morning session and, bearing in mind their average of nearly 67 for each test wicket taken abroad, Shakib Al Hasan's decision to field first was clearly defensive and designed to protect his frail batting lineup.

Bangladesh were, at least. boosted by Shakib's presence after his recovery from chicken pox while their leading batsman Tamim Iqbal will bat with taping on his injured left wrist.

Eoin Morgan was given his first test cap for England in recognition of his outstanding one-day form.

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-48849120100527

Modi premier league

We see that in IPL many cricket term changes. How about this changes:

6= Modi maximum

4 = Modi medium

3 = Modi triple

2 = Modi double

1 = Modi minimum

Wide ball = Twitter wide

No ball = Lalit penalty

OUT = Modi Suspended

The Real twenty20 Cricket

ICICC promises not to repeat 2007 mistakes in T20 WC

International Cricket Council has learnt from the mistakes it made in the 2007 World Cup and would lower the ticket prices to ensure that the Twenty20 World Championship doesn't prove to be another flop show in the West Indies, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said, reports PTI.

"We have learnt from the 2007 World Cup. Perhaps pricing of the tickets was the fundamental reason (behind low turnout) there. It was not really affordable for them. The Caribbeans are small communities and it was not affordable for them to buy tickets of all matches," Lorgat said.

Spelling out plans to woo the locals for the April 30-May 16 ICC World Twenty20, Lorgat said, "While pricing of the ticket is key, we are also retaining the Caribbean flavour this time."

"Every territory has its own style and culture and we will encourage them to get involved in their own way. I'm hoping they would come out in full swing and there will be a party atmosphere all around," said Lorgat who was in New Delhi on Monday to display the ICC World Twenty20 trophy.

The Twenty20 World Cup begins just five days after the completion of the Indian Premier League III but Lorgat didn't see any harm in that.

"Last year too, IPL preceded the Twenty20 World Cup in England, which was reported as a successful event. I see IPL as great forerunner to Twenty20 World Cup," he said.

Lorgat also took the occasion to reiterate that there would be no separate window for IPL.

"As I have said in the past, I don't envisage a window for IPL, which is a domestic event. It's difficult to incorporate all domestic tournaments. The Future Tours Programme schedules only international cricket. In addition to that, IPL (governing council) has not sought any window," Lorgat explained.

The South African said he expects Twenty20 would open up new market for cricket but not at the cost of the game's two other formats.

"There is no question about Twenty20's popularity. It has taken off beyond expectation but I don't think other formats are not popular.

"Most would acknowledge that in the last 12-18 months, we have seen some fascinating one day matches. When Sachin Tendulkar scored 200, most people were of the view that 50-overs cricket would definitely survive. It's important how we manage the formats," Lorgat said.

Shahid Afridi Pakistan captain named

The Pakistan Cricket Board ended weeks of uncertainty, by appointing Shahid Afridi to lead the country's campaign to defend the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean from the end of next month. Afridi will once again take up the role he was given last year, after Younis Khan stepped away from the format, though he has for now only been handed the role for the duration of the tournament.

"It's a challenge for me and I accept it," Afridi said. "We are going to the West Indies with only one aim and that is to defend our title."

The limit on the tenure appears to be a result of the disciplinary action Afridi has faced since he was found guilty of ball-tampering - biting the ball repeatedly - in an ODI in Perth where he was captain. Until then, Pakistan had settled on Afridi as the Twenty20 captain till the World Cup and potentially as an ODI leader as well. But after that incident Afridi's stock fell considerably.

He was banned by the ICC for two T20Is, which led to Shoaib Malik taking over, albeit reluctantly. Then, the board slapped him with a Rs 3 million ($35,000) fine for the same incident, as well as placing him under probation for six months. Any further breaches, the message is clear, and punishment could be harsher.

The board took the unusual step of announcing a 15-man squad for the tournament without naming a captain earlier this month. Since then, and despite his punishments, Afridi was the clear frontrunner among a limited pool of alternatives. He met the chairman Ijaz Butt once in that period. He is flying in to Lahore today, having collected a presidential award during the day in Karachi.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq and Salman Butt were thought to be in the running as well, but Afridi's record in the format - he is among the most influential all-round players in the world - and a naturally aggressive streak has made the choice an easier one.

Afridi has already led his country in three T20Is and won all of them, with little outward detriment to his own individual impact. The decision to announce the captain so late does leave open the charge, however, that neither captain nor coach - the recently-appointed Waqar Younis - had any say in the team they will be in charge of in the Caribbean.

Pakistan will be without the services of Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, both banned by the PCB, as well as the injured Sohail Tanvir. Afridi said their absences from the Caribbean campaign were unfortunate. "Rana, Malik and Tanvir could have been in my playing eleven because they had performed well in the past," he said.

http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202010/content/current/story/453170.html

for Pune, Kochi $ 703m

The financial might of the IPL was on display again on Sunday when Pune and Kochi became the league's two new franchises, being sold for a value in excess of the original eight franchises combined.

The Sahara Group, the biggest patron of sports in the country, became owners of the Pune franchise after offering a staggering US$370m. The other new franchisee is a consortium of five companies called Rendezvous Sports World, which bid US$333.33m for Kochi. There were three other qualified bidders, including Adani Enterprises and VC digital solutions Pvt Ltd (Videocon), who were in the fray to become part of the IPL, which will be heartening for any existing franchise owners looking to offload their stake.

"It only shows there is no recession for the IPL and it is on the upswing," Lalit Modi, the league's commissioner, said after announcing the new franchises in Chennai.

Sahara, who have been sponsoring Indian cricket for the past 15 years, had bid for the same amount for three cities, but ultimately chose Pune over Ahmedabad and Nagpur. "When we considered the cities, in terms of infrastructure and logistics, Pune came first," Abhijit Sarkar, the head of Sahara's corporate communications, said. "Ït is also close to Mumbai - the commercial capital of India - and Aamby Valley (an upmarket township owned by the Sahara group)."

Ajay Shirke, president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) and a prominent businessmen from Pune, said he was obviously happy about Pune being rated as the most popular venue at the auction with three out of the five bidders preferring Pune as their home base over the rest of the 11 cities.

"MCA has always maintained that we will support all bids that are made for Pune," Shirke, who was present at the auction venue in Chennai, told Cricinfo. "That only increases Pune's association with cricket manifold.

"What they [the bidders] would have kept in mind was the market of Mumbai and Pune are nearby. Then there are private cities like Lavasa and Aamby Valley, which are about 20 kilometres from the ground."

According to Shirke, the Sahara franchise would have its home ground situated on the outskirts of Pune city, in Gahunje, which is on the Mumbai-Pune expressway. The ground construction is already underway with Shapoorji Pallonji being the main contractors.

He was confident that the ground would be ready in time for the IPL's fourth season when Sahara would unveil its team. "The construction work has already started and it should be ready by March 2011," Shirke said.

While Sahara have a long history of sports sponsorship and are a high-profile corporate group, little is known about the winners of the Kochi franchise. It is a consortium with five partners - the Rendezvous group, Parini developers, Anand Shah Estate, Anchor Earth Private Limited and Film Waves. Minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor was involved in bringing together the group, but has no stake in the franchise.

In fact, Tharoor clarified to Cricinfo that he had no stake in the Kochi franchise and that his role was limited to encouraging the consortium that bagged the team. "My role consisted only of encouraging and blessing the venture, and steering it to Kerala," he told Cricinfo.

"Tharoor was involved in facilitating and trying to get a team for the state," Modi confirmed. "He is an ardent fan of cricket and he has been trying to get people from Kochi to bid for it. I think his involvement ends there."

Modi said the tournament's organsiers would provide the Kochi franchise a home ground till the Kerala Cricket Association completes construction of its new stadium. "Kerala Cricket Association is in the process of building the infrastructure and as when the stadium is ready teams will play there," he said. "But till the structures are ready, the IPL will provide them with an alternate venue."

Speaking to reporters, Shailendra Gaikwad of Rendezvous World Sport said, "We have closely been following every development within the IPL, right from the inaugural year. Today, I am very happy for our consortium of Rendezvous World Sport and the people of Kochi as we finally have a team to call our own in this amazing city-based sports franchise"

While the huge money offered by the new franchisees shows the health of the IPL, Modi said there were no plans in the near future to further increase the number of teams involved. "We also have no plans to expand further immediately. In fact I don't foresee an expansion in many, many years to come but then you never know."

The IPL will now feature 10 teams and - if the current format is retained - a total of 94 games, from the existing 60. After the first season in 2008, the league has already expanded its reach to other centres such as Cuttack, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Dharamsala.

The franchise auction process was to have been completed on March 7 but was postponed by two weeks after the bidders and the BCCI objected to stiff financial clauses.

Tail-up Tigers Test Series 2010 England Vs Bangladesh

Strong tail-end batting got Bangladesh to 419 eventually but the second Test match is far from over as England ended the second day solidly despite a few blows. The visitors were 170 for three at stumps yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

After Nayeem Islam and Shafiul Islam batted purposefully to score maiden half-centuries in the first session, England made sure they were still in the reckoning but struggled to score at a faster rate.

However the heroes on this scorching hot day of few runs and wickets were Nayeem and Shafiul as the Test match progressed to what could be some thrilling three days of cricket.

The two overnight batsmen, who came in late on the first day with the Tigers hoping for a score that would be 350 at best, frustrated the England fieldsmen and then dominated for almost two hours in the morning.

Nayeem farmed the strike for most of the first hour but as England started leaking runs, particularly through gaps in the slip cordon, Shafiul felt confident enough to take on the pacemen. Soon he struck boundaries through the tight off-side field, hitting the likes of Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and James Tredwell. He got on a roll and reached his half-century off 47 balls with a carved boundary over the covers.

Nayeem at the other end was contented with squirting boundaries through the slip cordon off Tim Bresnan and three overs later, he also reached a first half-century. The two added 74 for the ninth wicket, a record in Bangladesh-England Tests, before Shafiul edged one to Matt Prior who dove in front of the first slip to take the catch off Bresnan.

If England thought they could wrap it up quickly, the Tigers No 11 Rubel Hossain came out and slammed four boundaries in his 22-ball 17 to make sure a healthy first innings.

Shakib brought himself and Abdur Razzak into the attack within an over into the England innings and soon after lunch, Razzak had England captain Alistair Cook caught at mid-wicket for 21.

It would have been a far even worse day for tourists had the Tigers held the only chance they got from opener Jonathan Trott, who ended the day on an unbeaten 64.

He had Ian Bell for company when the day ended but Trott, who took 33 balls to get off the mark, had a reprieve when debutant Jahirul Islam dropped a simple chance at short leg off captain Shakib Al Hasan with England on 41-1.

Thereafter, Trott and Kevin Pietersen, who also had a strong lbw appeal against him turned down, took the visitors to tea safely in a 76-run stand but within minutes, the Tigers were back with two key wickets.

First, Kevin Pietersen was beaten in length by Shakib and toed it to short cover where Imrul Kayes took a simple catch. Seven balls later, Paul Collingwood fell leg-before to Rubel Hossain who used an otherwise futile old ball to good effect.

England soon restored parity with Bell, hitting three confident boundaries in his 25, and Trott reached his second Test fifty. The two have added 64 for the fourth wicket so far, confirming a long hard day for Tigers bowlers on a non-responsive wicket.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=131052

BCB cancels Raqibul's contract

The Bangladesh Cricket Board in a meeting on Friday decided to terminate cricketer Raqibul Hassan's current contract, following his letter to quit the game on Mar 10 and subsequent letter on Mar 17 revoking the decision.

The BCB in a statement said: "The Board considers Raqibul's conduct in the whole affair as disruptive to the preparation of the Bangladesh Team ahead of a highly important Test match. It was a serious breach of discipline on part of a contracted player and unbecoming of an international cricketer."

"As such the Board has terminated his contract with immediate effect and he will not be considered for selection in the National Team for three months effective from March 19 to June 19, 2010. However he will be allowed to participate in domestic cricket competitions."

The Board believes that timely punitive measures would discourage other players from taking similar path in future and has decided that very strict actions will be taken against cricketers who break discipline and BCB's Code of Conduct.

Sourav fined $20,000 for slow over rate

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly has been fined
$20,000 for slow over rate during the team’s opening match win against defending champions Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

The Knight Riders were assessed to be three overs behind the required rate at the end of the match. Under the IPL’s code of conduct, match referee Andy Pycroft fined Ganguly.

Knight Riders, who were placed at the bottom last year, stunned Chargers by 11 runs here Friday.

More at : Sourav fined $20,000 for slow over rate http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/sourav-fined-20000-for-slow-over-rate_100334275.html#ixzz0ieesG8SD

IPL: Kolkata Knight Riders

Having worked with him at Middlesex, I recognise this as typical Buchanan: he is always looking to challenge received wisdom and shake things up. Sometimes his thinking can be insightful; at other times it just causes problems. In this case, I think it might have been unwise to challenge Ganguly, the Knight Riders’ captain and leading run-scorer last season. He is not known as the “Prince of Kolkata” for nothing.

In 2008, the Knight Riders started spectacularly, when New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum teed off in the opening match in Mumbai. But after that they suffered four consecutive defeats as their batting struggled to reproduce the same level of quality. As for their bowling, it was too reliant on the excellent Umar Gul, who averaged fewer than 16 runs per wicket. Without Gul and Shoaib Akhtar — both ruled out by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s tough stance on the IPL — the Knight Riders must find new ways of getting people out.

Fortunately, two lesser performers of the 2008 season have matured greatly in the past 12 months. Despite attracting a huge $950,000 bid, Ishant Sharma was a disappointment last year, but he has since turned himself into one of the world’s most respected young bowlers. His inswing, delivered from a high action and with canny variations in pace, will present batsmen with an unusual challenge.

Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan mystery spinner, had played just three one-day internationals when he was brought on board last year, which may explain why he was selected for only a single IPL match. Yet since then, he has been a revelation, averaging 23 runs per wicket in Tests and a scarcely credible 13 in one-dayers. Not bad for a bloke whom the Knight Riders signed originally as a replacement.

With McCullum available for the whole season, and Chris Gayle, of the West Indies, hoping to play in the IPL for the first time, Kolkata will have extra, top-order artillery. With openers like these, they are bound to unleash further pyrotechnics from time to time. But their biggest challenge will be to maintain form over the long haul. Their owner, the Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan, will expect nothing less.

Key man: Brendon McCullum

Likely starting XI: Brendon McCullum (wk), Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly (capt), Cheteshwar Pujara, Debabrata Das, Moises Henriques, Laxmi Shukla, Murali Kartik, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Ajantha Mendis.

Indian Punters League cashes in on IPL-3

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) frenzy catches up with cricket fanatics, action elsewhere (behind closed doors) is churning out big money as well — with some estimates pegging the amount at around Rs 5,000 crore per match.

According to sources, the bookies have changed the way they operate. Given the large number of games being played, the operators are opting for weekly settlement with punters, instead of the daily system preferred earlier.

The settlement cycle also depends on a punter’s credit worthiness. But bookies say that on days when two games are being played it becomes very difficult to find time. So, they opted for a longer settlement cycle.

Betting being illegal in India, most of the bookies are using the confines of their cars, instead of operating from hideouts in buildings, as they are mobile and can evade the police easily. Giving them company are mobile phones, with some meant for outgoing calls only, and laptops to keep track of scores and other developments on the field.

There is more to it. Traditionally, punters used to organise bets on who would win. Now, there are several options: If you go for a ‘session’, you have to put your money on number of runs scored in a session (innings). For example, if a team scores between, say, 150 and 180 runs, the punter will make money. If a team falls short of the 150-run mark, or manages to go past 180, the bookie takes the cash.

The other option is ‘gala’ in bookie-speak. This form of betting typically starts from the 12th over and requires people to predict how many runs would be scored over the next few overs. If, say, someone bets on a team scoring 19 runs in three overs and the batting team manages to score up to 19 runs, the punter makes the money. In case the team scores 20 or more runs, the bookie walks away with the cash.

There is a third variation — ‘khadda’ — where no one is willing to take a bet since the outcome is hard to predict. Here, it is the bookies who are involved and it’s the “insiders” who decide. “This is more of an exception and not the rule as no one wants to lose money,” said a bookie.

The betting odds are decided by a ring of leading bookies who decide the rates, which is then communicated to the others over the phone.

For those looking to play straight, there is the traditional form of betting as well. Bookies said Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are seen as the hot favourites in IPL-3. As a result, someone betting one rupee on these four teams will get less in return. In contrast, the odds on a Rajasthan Royals win are 1:2.

Similarly, betting on Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist is considered to be less rewarding as these players are seen to be match winners.

Modi planning overseas IPL tournament

With the IPL’s return to India being heralded as a huge success IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi is already planning to stage another overseas IPL tournament.

Although the idea is still in the planning stages England, America and the Middle East have already been pin pointed as possible locations.

"This is just a proposal at the moment. The idea is to begin with exhibition matches overseas. It all depends on how the British, North American and Middle Eastern TV viewers react to this year's IPL,” Modi told the Times of India.

”Based on that, there could be a short IPL played outside India in the future," he added.

Last years IPL was held in South Africa after Modi decided to move the tournament because it clashed with local elections in India.

Deccan Chargers survived a late assault from Irfan Pathan

Deccan were cruising at one stage when Punjab had been reduced to 68-6, but Irfan Pathan raised his team's hopes with a stunning onslaught of 60 from 29 balls. The left-hander, however, fell on the first ball of the final over in which the team needed 19 runs.

Pathan cracked five sixes and three fours in his knock but it didn't prove enough as his team slumped to its third straight defeat in the competition.

Chasing 171, Punjab were set back early in their innings when Manvinder Bisla was run out for a duck, before captain Kumar Sangakkara was sent back by fellow Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas for no score.

Opener Ravi Bopara kept Punjab in the hunt but kept losing wickets at the other end, with Yuvraj Singh falling for four before Mahela Jayawardene and Adrian Barath were sent back cheaply as well.

Vaas' opening spell broke the back of the Punjab batting in which he took two wickets while every other Deccan bowler picked up a wicket each. Andrew Symonds starred for the Chargers with both bat and ball. It was also the first instance that Deccan had beaten Punjab in the IPL in five meetings.

Earlier, the Chargers threw away a cracking start to post 170-7 as the IPL staged its first game at at the Barabati stadium.

Andrew Symonds was the top-scorer with 53 but Deccan failed to build on a perfect launch pad set up by captain Adam Gilchrist, who scored 33 from just 12 balls after Punjab captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and decided to bowl.

Gilchrist's wicket was followed by an unfortunate incident for the Chargers, who lost opener VVS Laxman to injury. The batsman got his by a wayward throw while trying to make his ground while taking a run.

Herschelle Gibbs and Symonds, however, kept the Chargers on track for a big total as they cruised to 100-1 at the halfway stage. But Yuvraj Singh's introduction undid their good work as Gibbs fell for 23, before Rohit Sharma was run out in the same over.

Deccan kept losing wickets in the second half as they only managed 70 runs in their next 10 overs.

IPL may get 6 bidders for 2 new teams

The base price of $225 million is still a dampener for prospective bidders who have picked up the tender document for bidding for the franchises of two new teams for the fourth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL)“Not more than six investors are expected to place their bids for the new teams,” a BCCI source told Business Standard.

The minimum bid price ($225 million) is almost double the figure of the most expensive IPL team — the Mumbai Indians — owned by Mukesh Ambani, who had paid $111.9 million in 2008. There were 16 bidders for the 8 franchises in the first season.

According to sources, Videocon, Jaypee Associates, Sahara, Adani Group and a conglomerate in the construction business from Pune will be placing bids. IPL will be accepting the bids for the two new teams on March 21 at 10 am. The bids will be opened and the winner will be declared at 11 am on the same day.

IPL had invited bids for the franchises for two new teams in February and was supposed to declare the winners on March 7, however, it had to modify its tender norms after it suffered a setback receiving only two bids for the two teams on offer. Most of the prospective bidders who had bought the ITT had raised concerns on the stiff financial terms of the earlier tender.

IPL later made three major changes in the new tender: the $100 million (Rs 460 crore) performance guarantee as stipulated in the first ITT was brought down to $10 million (Rs 46 crore). The amount should be submitted 24 hours before the bid. The winning bidder will have to submit a bank guarantee, which will be 10 per cent of the bid amount, within 48 hours of winning a franchise. In the earlier tender it was 100 per cent of the bid amount.

The most important change was the withdrawal of the networth clause. In the earlier tender it was $1 billion (Rs 4,600 crore). “Essentially, we have gone back to 2008 when bidding for the existing franchises was held. But, since the values have gone up, the performance guarantee has also gone up from $5 million to $10 million,” IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had said.

Test status

Sachin Tendulkar breaks ODI world record

Tendulkar passed the mark of 194 not out set by Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry in August last year and 194 by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar in 1997.

The 36-year-old is already the leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket.

Tendulkar's previous best was 186 not out against New Zealand at Hyderabad in November 1999.

India closed on 401-3, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hammering 68 off just 35 balls as South Africa's bowlers toiled for no reward.

Highest individual scores in one-day international cricket:

1. 200 not out - Sachin Tendulkar, India vs. South Africa, Gwalior, February 2010

2. 194 not out - Charles Coventry, Zimbabwe vs. Bangladesh, Bulawayo, August 2009

3. 194 - Saeed Anwar, Pakistan vs. India, Chennai, May 1997

4. 189 not out - Viv Richards, West Indies vs. England, Manchester, May 1984

5. 189 - Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka vs. India, Sharjah, October 2000

6. 188 not out - Gary Kirsten, South Africa vs. United Arab Emirates, Rawalpindi, February 1996

7. 186 not out - Sachin Tendulkar, India vs. New Zealand, Hyderabad, November 1999

8. 183 not out - Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India vs. Sri Lanka, Jaipur, October 2005

9. 183 - Sourav Ganguly, India vs. Sri Lanka, Taunton, May 1999

10. 181 not out - Matthew Hayden, Australia vs. New Zealand, Hamilton, February 2007

11. 181 - Viv Richards, West Indies vs. Sri Lanka, Karachi, October 1987.

Tendulkar to attend Ashraful's wedding

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar will top the list of invitees when former Bangladeshi skipper Mohammad Ashraful gets married next year, his father has revealed.

“Sachin will be on top of our invitee list when my son decides to marry. Sachin asked my son what should be brought as a family gift but his visit to our home itself will be the biggest gift for us,” The Nation quoted Abdul Matil, as saying.

Although several other players have visited Ashraful’s house, including former Pakistani player Saeed Anwar and Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, but Tendulkar’s visit stands out in Matil’s memory.

Speaking over his mobile from Dhaka on Sunday morning, he said, “Former Pakistani player Saeed Anwar visited our house last year when he came to attend some religious function in Bangladesh.”

“Sachin is my son’s favourite cricketer and since childhood he is his idealhero. We are very happy to receive him. Sachin is a very simple, sober and down to earth person,” Ashraful’s father said.

“Some 1000 people flocked him to see Sachin at my house. The people came to know about Sachin’s visit through media and mouth to mouth publicity,” he added.

Matil recounts how Tendulkar relished on Bangladeshi dishes served to him.

“He liked jumbo prawns and Hilsha fish (Ilish) very much. The sweets and fruits of his choice were also served,” he said.
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India meet SA to prove ODI superiority

After the Test stalemate, a depleted India and a scarred South Africa will begin their battle of ODI supremacy today when the three-match series gets underway at a fortified Sawai Mansingh Stadium here. The Indian team arrived here yesterday high on morale and low on resource and it would require more than a nip and a tuck to fill the void created by the absence of some of their key players. The hosts’s bowling unit will lack the firepower of Zaheer Khan after the pace spearhead strained a leg muscle during the Kolkata Test against the Proteas. Zaheer’s absence would sorely be felt not just because he leads the attack but also because he has been virtually India’s bowling captain, mentoring fellow pacers with his elder-brotherly concern. The spin department would also not be the same without the feisty Harbhajan Singh, who would miss the first two ODIs to attend his sister’s wedding. The volatile offie, who had just regained his mojo in Kolkata, would have been quite a handful for the South Africans with his bag of tricks and reckless slogging down the order, not to mention of his confrontational approach. India’s batting also loses some of its formidability because of the absence of left-handed duo of Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, the first is nursing an injury in his left wrist and the second a groin. Like the recent Test series, here also India has more than just a bunch of personal reputations at stake. India need to win the three-match ODI series to remain the number two one day side in the world which would entitle them to USD 75,000 from the ICC. To stave off the South Africans, India would expect the substitute players to come to the party today. S Sreesanth, Zaheer’s replacement, is expected to share the new ball with Ashish Nehra tomorrow and the Kerala speedster would have to ensure that he is upto the mark. Uttar Pradesh teammates Sudeep Tyagi and Praveen Kumar would vie for the third pacer’s slot tomorrow. In the slow bowling department, Amit Mishra is almost certain to play tomorrow and he is expected to share the spin burden with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose utility in one day cricket has been proven beyond doubt. In the batting line-up, Gambhir and Yuvraj’s absence could be compensated only if the top order fire in unison. Irrespective of whether India set a total or chase one, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar would have to provide the start they are expected of and Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina need to continue the good work. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has fond memories of the venue. In 2005, it was at the same venue that the star stumper-batsman, then with flowing tresses, had hit a devastating unbeaten 245-ball 183 which remains his highest ODI score so far. Since then, the Indian captain has modelled himself more into a finisher but the crowd would assemble here tomorrow to see glimpse of the old Dhoni. A product of the same power-hitting school, Baroda all-rounder Yousuf Pathan is also set to make it to the playing XI tomorrow, hoping to continue his red hot form that has won him a recall to the side. Fortunately for Dhoni, India is not the only team grappling with injuries. South Africa has already lost their charismatic captain Graeme Smith and even though stop-gap leader Jacques Kallis has an enviable record against India, how much inspiration this burly all-rounder manages to provide remains to be seen. Prolific top order batsman Hashim Amla has been asked to stay back and fill Smith’s void. Amla may have been a run-machine in the drawn Test series but one day cricket is a different kettle of fish altogether and the bearded batsman might struggle to adjust to the ODI mode. Their bowling, especially Dale Steyn, looked too hot to handle in the Nagpur Test but was pretty pedestrian in Kolkata. Steyn’s pace, Morne Morkel’s bounce and Wayne Parnell’s angles remain a worry but the Indian line-up is capable enough to blunt them all.

SA to stage Champions League T20

South Africa will host the 2010 Champions League T20 tournament in September, Cricket South Africa announced Friday. Twelve teams from seven countries will play in the event from September 10 to 26. The first edition of the tournament, for the leading Twenty20 teams from the participating countries, was played in India last year with New South Wales beating Trinidad and Tobago in the final. CSA are shareholders, with the Indian and Australian boards, in the Champions League. The tournament will be played at the home venues of the two South African qualifiers and a third ground to be decided by CSA. The participants will be three teams from the Indian Premier League, two each from South Africa, Australia and England, and one each from Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies.

Nafees to lead BCB XI against England

Opening batsman Shahriar Nafees Ahmed will lead the BCB XI in the first of the two practice matches against England at the Fatullah stadium on February 23. ]BCB squad: Shahriar Nafees (captain), Alok Kopali, Imtiaz Hossain, Nasir Uddin Faruque, Shahin Hossain (wicketkeeper), Mahmudul Hasan, Shafaq Al Zabir, Tanvir Haider, Ariful Hoque, Alauddin Babu, Tapash Baishya, Shamsur Rahman, Md Sharifullah. Team Management: Minhajul Abedin (coach), Zafrul Ehsan (assistant coach), Fahim Muntasir (manager), Azmal Ahmed (physio).

England in Bangladesh 2010

Pakistan recall Alam and Rauf from Australia

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recalled players Fawad Alam and Abdul Rauf from Australia to reduce the size of the touring squad, officials said in a statement on Thursday.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim told Reuters that a request by the team management to send senior batsman Younus Khan to Australia before the second Test in Sydney starting on Sunday had been put on hold.
"The team management had asked us to rush Younus to reinforce the team but after discussing the matter with the board chairman we have decided that a final decision would be taken after the second Test," Qasim said.

Pakistan lost the first Test.

India would benefit from having a specialist bowling coach: Dhoni

India would benefit from having a specialist bowling coach, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Friday.

The Indian cricket board sacked Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh as bowling and fielding coaches in October after the country's early exit from the Twenty20 World Cup in England and the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

India climbed to the top of the test rankings for the first time in December but the team has struggled to establish supremacy in one-day international cricket.

"To some extent it does hurt not having a bowling coach. If you have a specialist coach he is always interacting with the bowlers and trying to get the best out of them," Dhoni told a news conference on the eve of the team's departure to Bangladesh.
"He (coach Gary Kirsten) has to look after everything: he has to sit and talk to the batsmen, bowlers, fielders, build strategies and look after team building."

The Indian board has recruited former Australian fielding coach Mike Young as fielding consultant but has not decided whether to recruit a specialist bowling coach.

India will start the new year with a triangular one-day series involving Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from Jan. 4 followed by two test matches against Bangladesh.

Batsman Sachin Tendulkar has opted out of the tri-series to save himself for the two tests.

BCB has picked former 'rebel-players'

BCB has picked former 'rebel-players' Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, and Dhiman Ghosh, once banned from national play for joining the lucrative but unauthorised ICL, for an upcoming tri-nation series.

It marks BCB's first selection of the top cricketers since the ban was lifted following their departure from the rebel Indian Cricket League.

They are included in a provisional 26-member squad for the series beginning on January 4 in Dhaka, where Bangladesh will square off against India and Sri Lanka.

Warne, Clarke face off in All Star Twenty20

Australian spin legend Shane Warne and Michael Clarke are all for a Twenty20 showdown when they lead their respective teams in an All-Star match in Brisbane today. Warne will captain the Australian Cricketers’ Association All-Star XI, while Clarke, who has recovered from a nagging back problem, will play his first Twenty20 match since being appointed the national T20 captain by leading a KFC-sponsored Australian squad. ‘For what promises to be a fantastic opening to the Australian international season, the National Selection Panel has picked a very exciting team to take on the Johnnie Walker ACA All Stars in the game on Sunday,’ Cricket Australia NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement. ‘In selecting the team we have not considered any of the Test players who have been heavily involved in the recent one-day campaign in India to allow them to prepare for the first Test. ‘The side does however feature Michael Clarke in his first Twenty20 game since being named captain, Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle as these players have not had the same amount of cricket as the other Test players leading into Brisbane,’ he added. Hilditch said the match would also serve as good preparation for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup. ‘While the emphasis will be on entertainment, the NSP sees the game as a great opportunity to continue our preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies next year,’ Hilditch said. The star-studded ACA All Star team has retired legends like Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath. ‘We are honoured that four legends of the game in Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath have made themselves available and have no doubt they will shine for the All Stars,’ ACA President Darren Lehmann said. Teams will be allowed 12 players, however, only 11 will bat and 11 are available to bowl. The KFC sponsored Australian squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Cameron White (vice-captain), George Bailey, Brad Haddin, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, David Warner. The Johnnie Walker ACA All Star Team: Shane Warne (captain), Travis Birt, Lee Carseldine, Adam Gilchrist, Daniel Harris, Matthew Hayden, Jason Krejza, Rhett Lockyear, Graham Manou, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Reardon, Nathan Rimmington.

Dilshan suffers broken nose

Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has fractured his nose after colliding with one of his team-mates while playing football following the first Test against India in Ahmedabad on Friday. Brendon Kuruppu, Sri Lanka’s team manager, confirmed the news upon arrival in Kanpur, the venue for the second Test starting Tuesday. Dilshan had to be rushed to hospital where an X-ray revealed the damage. However, Dilshan may yet be available for the second Test. ‘The injury was put right by the surgeon before we left for Kanpur and Dilshan is out of danger,’ Kuruppu said. ‘He is not in any kind of great discomfort. He will resume practice with the rest of the team tomorrow (Sunday).’ This is Dilshan’s second injury on this tour. Prior to the first Test, he sprained his ankle during practice, but recovered in time to score a century.

Latif admits cheating at Multan

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif admitted that he faked the catch of Bangladesh batsman Alok Kapali during the third and final Test at Multan six years ago that the visitors lost by one wicket.

His confessional statement was aired on Desh TV, a local private television channel, on Saturday night where the former Pakistan wicketkeeper also explained what prompted him to resort to an act of cheating.

The 41-year-old Pakistani said that he did it intentionally keeping in mind that a defeat against Bangladesh would not be taken sportingly at home especially after the bitter memories of the 1999 loss in the World Cup.

He said that their one-day international loss against Bangladesh during the 1999 World Cup in England raised questions of match fixing and he feared that the defeat at Multan, which was always on the cards, might fuel that allegation again.

Now in Dhaka to attend the Level III coaches education course conducted by the Asian Cricket Council and Cricket Australia in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Latif also recalled the incident, which was widely criticised.

“I dived to my right to take a Kapali nick (off an Yasir Ali delivery). The ball dropped from my gloves as I rolled over but quickly picked it up from the ground before claiming it as a clean catch,” said the stumper.

In that Test, Bangladesh were in a strong position to pull off a historic win. After scoring 281 in the first innings they bowled Pakistan out for 175. In their second knock Bangladesh wobbled after Kapali's dismissal on a difficult track. In their second innings, Pakistan rode on an unbeaten 138 from Inzamamul Haq to save the blushes. It was also alleged that the groundsmen cut the outfield grass the night before the start of the fourth day, a clear violation of the game rules, so that the ball could move faster towards the boundary.

An uneasy Latif however did not say anything about other incidents.

Latif was subsequently suspended for next five matches for bringing the game into disrepute. He also stepped down as captain after that three-Test series.

In that series, Bangladesh also played very well in the second Test at Peshawar. But a second innings debacle saw Bangladesh eventually lose the game by nine wickets.

Latif is currently the wicket keeping coach of the Pakistan youth team.

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