IPL is a threat to international cricket

MELBOURNE, Nov 25: Extremely popular Indian Premier League has failed to impress the Australian fans of the game as in a survey, they have termed the mega BCCI event as the biggest threat to the health of international cricket.

Launched by the Indian cricket board in 2008, the Twenty20 tournament has seen players earning mind-boggling contracts from the organisers via auction. Senior and young cricketers from almost all the major cricket playing nations have expressed a strong desire to earn an IPL contract.

However, 54 per cent of around 4000 respondents in the survey, conducted by Herald Sun newspaper, said the slam-bang format is not good for the health of international cricket while 43 per cent were of the opposite view and four per cent were not sure.

If the survey is to be believed as any inkling about the future of Test cricket, the purist and lovers of the traditional format of the game have reasons to cheer. The 78 per cent of the participant fans still believe that Test cricket is number one format and only 19 per cent said that it has lost its status as top format of the game.

Also, 73 per cent people believe that Twenty20 format cannot take over as number one form of the game and only 20 per cent said it could.

In another thumbs down to the shortest format of the game, 76 per cent fans do not want Twenty20 to replace One-day as short form of cricket, though 19 per cent voted for it. A whopping 64 per cent feel too much cricket is being played in international cricket calendar.

Asked about the best One-day batsman from the ICC top-10 batsmen list, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni fetched the maximum 26 percent votes followed by Indian run-machine Sachin Tendulkar and their own skipper Ricky Ponting with 22 per cent votes each.

Harbhajan Singh (4%) and Zaheer Khan (2%) were at number five and seven respectively in the list of top-10 bowlers. Interestingly, 55 per cent fans feel that Michael Clarke is the best man to fit into the shoes of Ponting but at same time maximum people (14%) feel that Clarke is most over-rated player of Australia.

Injury ravaged Aussie paceman Brett Lee is finished as a Test cricketer, feel 52 per cent while 39 per cent still believe that he could continue to wear the baggy green. (PTI)

Pakistan claim 2-0 series win over Kiwis

Aaron Moores | cricket20

Twenty20 World Cup Champions Pakistan made it two wins out of two at the Dubai Sports Cricket Stadium to claim the series win against an under strength New Zealand side.

Set a target of 154 for victory the Kiwis lost early wickets at regular intervals to leave stand in captain Brendan McCullum and SB Styris to much to do on a slow wicket despite a stand of 66.

McCullum hit a spirited 47 before falling in the 18th over with the Kiwis still needing another 22 runs for victory.

A six at the start of the final over by Styris set up a thrilling finish but a series tying victory for the Kiwis was just out of their reach.

Earlier Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to bat hoping his openers would take the game away from the Kiwis in a repeat of last nights success.

They found it hard going in the early over's with openers Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal both struggling to get any rhythm going.

The pair were both dismissed by Butler inside the first six overs and it was left to Akmal with support from Afridi and Fawad Alam to steer Pakistan to a defendable total.

Smith and Bosman power Proteas to big total

Graeme Smith was at his sublime best scoring 88 runs to help power South Africa to a massive total of 241 helped in part by some poor bowling by England.

Smith and Loots Bosman shared a record Twenty20 international opening stand of 170 as all of England bowlers were dispatched with ease around Centurion.

After Friday nights disappointing loss at the Wanderers Smith and Bosman wasted no time in setting about their task of setting a big total for England to chase.

The first two overs went well for England conceding only 14 runs but Smith set his sights on Sajid Mahmood in the next over hitting him for 3 consecutive fours before Bosman finished of the over with a huge six.

The over by Mahmood changed the course of the game as Smith and Bosman started to attack all of England's bowlers with ease feeding off some very poor indiscipline bowling.

At times England looked lost in the field with boundaries coming with ease as Alastair Cook's debut as captain was turning sour. In an attempt to slow the run rate Cook brought Adil Rashid into the attack and could only watch as his first over went for 25 runs.

Smith reached 88 before misjudging Joe Denly's first ball and watched as Mahmood took an easy catch on the boundary. Smith's 88 runs came from just 44 balls including 8 fours and 6 sixes.

With Smith departed Bosman carried on the assault missing out on a well deserved century by just 6 runs after he failed to get behind a full toss from Luke Wright and watched as James Anderson took a great diving catch at deep midwicket to hold a fine catch.

With 8 wickets in hand South Africa were able to keep on attacking despite losing regular wickets as Albie Morkel (14), JP Duminy (2) and Jacques Kallis (7) all failed to get going.

As the dust settled on an amazing display England well left shell shocked and will have to somehow chase 242 for a series victory.

Cook stunned by South African blitz

It was never going to be easy for Alistair Cook leading England for the first time in the absents of injured captain Paul Collingwood but the cause wasn't helped by the 170 run blitz from Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman.

"It's always tough when you go round the park, but it was great hitting."

Cook was honest in his appraisal of the game putting the blame solely at the feet of his bowlers for failing to stem the flow of runs by Smith and Bosman.

"You have to give credit to the way South Africa played. You can set a field but if you don't put the ball in the right place the margin on that wicket was very small."

Cook was also forced to defend his decision to open with Joe Denly when England needed to chase down a mammoth 242 instead of promoting big hitting players like Trott, Pietersen and Morgan up the order.

"I'm not sure if anyone has chased that score, we had the belief but we didn't have the skills today," he said.

Proteas captain Smith was pleased with the way South Africa bounced back after Friday nights defeat at the Wanderers and felt the win was more down to their batting instead of England's poor bowling.

"I think I'd like to say we were that good. We were positive, Loots and I got a rhythm and a beautiful wicket and we just wanted to keep England on the back foot" said Smith.

"The ball does sail up here in the high veldt, we wanted to bat first and post a good total but I don't think we could have expected 241. But I was very happy with the way we went today."

Chandra remains positive, ICL not finished

Despite the world wide success of the Indian Premier League the Zee Entertainment Enterprises has no plans to scrap the troubled rebel Indian Cricket League any time soon.

It's been a year since Inzamam ul Haq lead the Lahore Badshahs to the ICL Twenty20 Championship after beating the Hyderabad Heroes 2-1 in a three game series.

Since that championship game the ICL have lost over 100 'recognisable' players who left the league after being offered a way back into the cricketing world by the BCCI at the start of the year.

With a shortage of players and no schedule announced for the third ICL Twenty20 Championship it was expected that Zee would quietly scrap the troubled league but Subhash Chandra Chairman of Zee Entertainment Enterprises the leagues owners remain defiant.

Chandra has claimed in the past that the BCCI are trying to monopolise the game and have made every attempt to get the rebel league shut down. With the success of the IPL over the last two years the ICL faces an uphill challenge to start a third season.

Chandra stated that the "ICL is not out yet. I believe that one doesn't fail until one stops trying". Although Chandra remains hopeful the longer the league stays in hiatus the harder it will become to start again.

The IPL starts its third season back in India at the start of March 2010 and its expets IPL fever to reach melting point after th eleague returns from its African safari.

The ICL would be follish to compete head on with the IPL which starts in early March 2010. and by the time the third Twenty20 World Cup finishes in mid May it will have been 18 months since the ICL was in action.

Chandra may still remain posistive but to the outside world the ICL is a thing of the past.

2 more teams and pink balls from IPL 2011

NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Two new teams, four fielding substitutes instead of the lone 12th man, pink balls in practice matches and abolishing the Icon player status are some of the innovations which the Indian Premier League would embrace from its 2011 edition.

From next year onwards, IPL would also be played under the supervision of the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit, while players who skip the tournament despite not having any national assignment might have their contracts terminated, organisers of the event said in a statement.

The recent three-day franchisee workshop in Bangkok had threadbare discussions on player regulations, commercial aspects, logistics, hospitality, ticketing, licensing and merchandising.

“I am certain now that we are poised to bring a significantly enhanced IPL experience back home to the Indian fans in Season 2010,” IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said.

It has been decided that teams would be allowed four fielding substitutes, rather than the lone 12th man.

Any ball bowled above waist height, regardless of the speed, will be declared a no-ball, while pink balls would be used in practice matches.

Apart from availing ACSU service, IPL will follow the BCCI Anti-Doping policy for Season 2010. Another issue that the IPL Governing Council plans to take up is non-availability of players after signing of contracts.

“Measures discussed revolved around the initiation of stringent action including termination of player contracts and barring from future participation in the IPL, of players that have signed contracts, but fail to make themselves available for playing in the IPL,” the organisers said.

“It was agreed that in the event any of the Member Boards not issuing an NOC to their players for participation in the IPL - on pretext of domestic engagements — IPL could make a representation to the Governing Council of the Champions League for taking appropriate action against the members boards participation in the League,” the organisers said. On the decision to expand the league, they said, “A discussion for the addition of two new franchises in Season 4 was held with the same being adopted with 7 of the 8 Franchises being in favour of increasing the number of Teams to 10.”

Among other things, it was finalised that trading of Players will be permitted between franchisees for the season 2010 onwards.

Meanwhile, Pakistani players’ participation will have to be confirmed by their Cricket Board through an NOC and clearance from their government.

On January 19 next year, IPL would conduct an auction, adding new players into the league and a fresh purse of USD 750,000 will available to each franchisee.

The League will also have a cap on the maximum players in a squad while all franchises agreed to do away with the Icon Player status. (PTI)

Modi rules out any changes to IPL format

Source - cricket20.com

Lalit Modi, commissioner of the IPL has ruled out any changes to the format of the IPL despite speculation that the number of foreign players allowed in each team could be increased.

Modi underlined the IPL's overall aim which is to develop young talent in India. Despite the world wide success of the IPL the league remains a domestic Indian tournament.

"There can be speculation that the number of foreign players would go up to six or more in IPL teams. IPL is purely domestic cricket. As of now, there is no change in the existing format of permitting not more than four foreign players in a team."

"IPL is a domestic league. It will remain so. The objective is to encourage young talent in India." said Modi at a press conference after the Champions League final.

Mohanlal may bid for IPL expansion franchise

Mohanlal may bid for IPL expansion franchise

Source - cricket20.com

According to media reports in India Bollywood actor Mohanlal is planning to bid for an IPL franchise when they league is expanded to 10 teams in 2011.

Mohanlal is looking to join Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty by owning an IPL team.

Speaking to reporters during a function for the Kerala State Athletics Association Mohanlal conformed the media reports and stated he'll know in the coming weeks whether he'll be able to table a bid.

With the success of the IPL during its first two seasons the IPL's Governing Council agreed to an expansion to tean teams in 2011 at a meeting in August.

Pakistan players to play in 2010 IPL

Source - cricket20.com

After sitting out this years Indian Premier League which took place in South Africa Pakistani cricketers will once again be allowed to take part in the IPL starting from next year.

After the Mumbai terror attacks last November Pakistan's foreign affairs ministry advised the Pakistan Cricket Board to stop it's players taking part in the IPL.

Even though the event was moved to South Africa Pakistan's players were still not allowed to take part.

The PCB have now decided to give its players the go ahead to take part in the 2010 IPL which will take place once again back in India.

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt recently met with IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and reassured him Pakistan's players will be allowed to play.

"I spoke to him about our players taking part in the next IPL season and have requested him to ensure that Pakistani players are allowed to play in the league next year," he said.

Umpire stops Sachin from another milestome

Mohali, Nov 2: Let down by the batsmen, India slumped to a 24-run defeat in the fourth one-dayer that not only allowed Australia to level the seven-match cricket series 2-2 but also prolonged the hosts' wait to become the number one ODI team in the world here tonight.

Chasing 251, India got off to a flier with Virender Sehwag (30 off 19 balls) looking eager to wrap up the issue and Sachin Tendulkar (40) going great guns. But their undoing was no less spectacular as the middle and lower could not forge a single significant partnership and the team folded for 226 in 46.4 overs.

Earlier Put into bat, Australia stitched together half-centuries from Ponting (52) and White (62) and cameos from Shane Watson (49) and Michael Hussey (40) to give their bowlers a chance to defend a decent total.

A win would not only help Australia level the series but also keep the team's number one ODI tag intact.

Going strong at 196 for three, Australia came unstuck towards the end and fumbled in the batting powerplay, which cost them four wickets earning just 27 runs, before eventually folding in 49.2 overs.

Ashish Nehra (3/37) was pick of the Indian bowlers, while Harbhajan Singh also grabbed a couple of wickets.

The spate of injuries to key players had forced Ponting to open in Delhi but the Australia skipper could afford to return to his usual number three spot today as Shaun Marsh replaced Adam Voges in the playing XI.

Marsh, who dons Kings XI Punjab jersey in the Indian Premier League and hence a popular with the locals, could not make the most of the opportunity and was back in the hut in the eighth over with just five runs against his name.

Never at ease either against Ashish Nehra’s angles or the generous swing that Praveen Kumar was generating, Marsh scratched around for a while before a Nehra delivery struck him low and plumb.

It was a familiar scenario for Ponting, who joined hands with Watson to rebuild the innings and the skipper did not let down.

Ponting looked in sublime touch and he made a statement of intent when he pulled the first delivery he faced — Nehra was the bowler — for a boundary, a shot sheerly out of the top drawer.

Dhoni unleashed Ishant Sharma, hoping the beanpole pacer would once again torment the Australian captain like he had done in the past but Ponting was in no mood to oblige.

The Tasmanian was quick to assert himself and he nonchalantly hit his nemesis over long-on for a neat six, following it with a boundary that nearly cleared the long-off ropes. Watson, who looked scrappy initially, also grew in confidence and opened up, picking boundaries off Praveen and Ishant.

The duo had added 64 runs to lend stability when Dhoni pressed Harbhajan Singh into service and collaborated with the spinner to remove Watson off Harbhajan’s first delivery.

It was a thick edge off Watson’s blade that gently nestled into Dhoni’s anticipating gloves, leaving the batsman just one run short of a half-century that looked so imminent.

Ponting didn’t allow the setback to bog him down and played with blithe abandon, using his feet against the spinner and sweeping with elan. One such swept boundary off Harbhajan brought up his fifty but Ponting returned soon, beaten by Ravindra Jadeja's direct throw, much to Dhoni’s relief.Back in the dressing room, Ponting, however, had the satisfaction of watching Hussey and White continuing the good work with some sensible cricket during their 73-run stand. White smote Yuvraj over mid-wicket for a six before inflicting some damage on Ishan't bowling figure. In-form Hussey, on his part, negotiated the spinners with aplomb and once stepped out to hit Yuvraj over the ropes.

Hussey was looking good for his fifty when he holed out to Ishant, trying to hit Yuvraj out of the ground.

Australia lost White just after they had taken the batting powerplay with Nehra collecting a Mitchell Johnson drive off his own bowling and breaking the stump at non-striker’s end with White short of ground.

With Mitchell Johnson (8) doing precious nothing to enhance his all-rounder claim, Australia barely managed to reach the 250-mark.