IPL forces New Zealand to shorten Australian series?

It’s becoming increasingly clear now that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has attained the highest priority for the administrators of the game world over. Every cricket board seems to have made a point of late not to schedule many international games at a time when the IPL is planned to be held.

Although New Zealand Cricket have given another excuse but there’s little doubt in anyone’s mind that it’s the IPL that actually prompted them to shorten Australia’s tour to their country in the coming season.

Australia's tour to New Zealand in 2009-10 features two Twenty20 Internationals in late February to be followed by a five-match ODI series for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and two Tests.

Originally three Tests were scheduled to be held during the tour but the itinerary released by the New Zealand authorities the other one mentioned only two Tests to be held in Wellington and Hamilton starting on March 19 and 27 respectively.

It was quite a shocker because it will be the first time in 20 years that New Zealand would be hosting Australia for a series of less than three Tests. It would keep the top guns of Australia and New Zealand players engaged until March 31 and they would then be free for the IPL.

The IPL 3 will be getting underway in India on March 12 and will continue till April 25. The decision to scrap the third and final Test between New Zealand and Australia would allow the players of both teams around 10 more days in the IPL.

"Playing Test cricket in New Zealand after the cessation of daylight saving and deep into the second week of April is not realistic. Therefore our only option has been to limit the series to two Tests," Justin Vaughan, the Chief Executive of New Zealand Cricket, explained.

Isn’t it a strange argument because New Zealand had played host to a Test match against India during the month of April only this year. In fact a Test match was added to tour upon the request of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who denied more action for their team following the cancellation of the tour of Pakistan.

Well the New Zealand Cricket need to find some other reason to justify their decision to cut short the Test series against Australia.

Obviously the New Zealand Cricket is not the only board in the world that has made a move to accommodate the IPL. They could not have done this without the blessings of the more powerful Cricket Australia. Both the boards must have been in agreement to have two Tests instead of the planned three.

Anyways there is plenty of cricketing activities to be held in New Zealand in the coming season as they would now be hosting Pakistan instead of touring the country. Pakistan would now be playing their three ‘home’ Tests against New Zealand in New Zealand. Between the tours of Pakistan and Australia, New Zealand would also be playing host to Bangladesh.

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3:52 AM

IPL season 3 matches will push our bid for ODIs, says HPCA

Dharamshala: Situated in the middle of green, sky-touching Himalayan ranges with state-of-art facilities in place, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium would host the Indian Premier League matches next year with high hope of staging its debutant one-day international soon.

The stadium has almost everything what it takes to be a world class venue and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association feels next year`s IPL matches will only strengthen their bid for ICC recognition to host one-dayers.

"We have hosted practice matches with international teams in the past but our ultimate dream is to see the stadium being granted one-day international recognition by the ICC," HPCA President Anurag Thakur.


The serene HPCA stadium was scheduled to host four IPL matches last season but lost out on the opportunity after the Twenty20 league was relocated to South Africa as it clashed with the dates of general election.

However, the association`s dream will finally materialize when it will host two matches of IPL-III between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings next year.

"Last year we missed out on the opportunity to host IPL matches. But this time (in 2010) we will host two IPL matches and we hope it will pave the way towards hosting ODI matches in the stadium in near future," Thakur said.

ICC match referee, Zimbabwean Allan Hurst paid a visit to the stadium two years back and expressed his satisfaction over the playing conditions.

However, there were some concerns on his part but those has been taken care of to make the stadium a quality venue, which is currently hosting the inaugural edition of Sahara BCCI Corporate Trophy.

"ICC match referee inspected the stadium in 2007 and seemed satisfied with the playing facilities in place. But during his visit he had raised a few concerns like scarcity of good hotels here, quality of the approach road to the stadium, wi-fi internet connections and rooms for the match officials.

"We have taken his suggestions seriously and have already upgraded the wifi connection in the stadium, renovated the umpires` room and widened the roads to the stadium," Thakur said.

"Even five hotels have come up in Dharmashala and in the adjacent Mcloedganj. We have compiled a report on these upgradations and have already submitted it to the BCCI. We are now expecting ICC to inspect the stadium again and told the BCCI that we are ready for the inspection whenever ICC wants," Thakur said.

The stadium is all set to get a indoor practice facility soon, the association said.

"Construction work for an indoor practice centre is going on in full swing and we are expecting it to be operational by January next year. The entire project will cost around Rs eight crore," said Thakur, who is also an MP from Hamairpur and son of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

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4:58 AM

IPL gives South Africa board turnover of over USD 11.4 m

The staging of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa early this year helped the Cricket board there record a turnover of more than USD 11.4 million for the 2008/2009 season.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) had initially budgeted for a loss of nearly USD 10 million, the board's Treasurer Hentie van Wyk said at its annual meeting in Johannesburg.

Van Wyk said the CSA made an operating profit of nearly USD one million as a result of stronger negotiations, bigger broadcast deals, increased sponsorships and the board's successful hosting of international tournaments.

He said the CSA now has a healthy cash reserve of USD 21 million and had enjoyed "one of its most successful season during 2008/2009".

The favourable variance to budget was mainly due to interest received on increased cash balances, fee income related to the Champions League, IPL-related income, increased sponsorship and international broadcast revenue, he said.

"In many aspects, our positive financial results reflect the benefits to cricket of improved structures, expertise and management at all levels," Van Wyk said.

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11:09 AM

Salman Khan may or may not buy IPL team

There are contradicting reports whether the Bollywood icon, Salman Khan, is going to own a team in the future editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) or his recent meeting with the IPL Commissioner, Lalit Modi, was nothing more than a courtesy call.


It was reported the other day that Salman Khan had shown interest in buying a franchise in the IPL but brother Sohail Khan denied the news.

"It's not true. Salman is not buying any IPL team. Yesterday when he was shooting for Dus Ka Dum I called up bhai and asked him whether it was true and he denied it," brother Sohail was quoted as saying.

The speculation grew from the moment Salman had a meeting with Modi at a suburban Mumbai hotel and it was Modi who broke the news of Salman’s interest in owning a cricket team which he was going to introduce in 2011.

"He has been interested in buying a team for quite some time. Today, we had a brief meeting and I explained how to go about with the task. I can assure you that Salman is not the only star who is thinking of buying a team. I have had around 28 queries and the list will surely go up," Modi announced.

But the sources close to Salman indicated that it was just an informal meeting and the Bollywood star did not meet Modi with an aim to own a team, he just asked him what's happening with the IPL and some other details.

If Salman in indeed interested and does make a successful bid, Salman will join an impressive list of Bollywood stars who own IPL teams. Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla have a shareholding in Kolkata Knight Riders while Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty have invested in King’s XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals respectively.
The IPL, launched to cash in on the popularity of Twenty20 cricket following India’s conquest in the inaugural World Cup of the shortest version of the game, brought in huge sums of money.

The multi-million dollar Twenty20 series featured almost all top international players and it became an instant hit with the entertainment element and the overwhelming official support from the movers and shakers of the game.

Lalit Modi is the man behind the show and he remains eager to lure the celebrities to explore how they could join the bandwagon. Obviously the stars of Bollywood prove more than useful tool in selling cricket as well. The greater number of stars that the tournament attracts certainly helps in further boosting the profile of IPL.


It remains to be seen if Salman Khan, with his preoccupations, does decide to have a go at the IPL. Apart from Salman, Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt are also reportedly interested in owning IPL teams.

"He (Salman) is aware of the price of a franchise, which will be between US $200 to US $300 million. He has been keen for some time now, so he was curious about the process of auctions and the money involved,” Modi claimed in a television interview.
The request for proposal and tender for the two new teams will be floated by December and the auction will take place in January 2010. This is done to give the new owners enough time to set up a team and participate in the auction for IPL 4 for the new players.

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2:43 AM

Bollywood Actor Salman Khan interested to join the IPL band wagon

Mumbai: After the news of two more teams being added to the extravagant Indian Premier League in 2011 started doing the rounds, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan took maximum interest in the report.

The actor has showed interest in purchasing an IPL franchise for the 2011 edition and he also met the League’s Chairman Lalit Modi on Wednesday to discuss the feasibility of the prospect.

The report was confirmed by Modi when he said that Salman had approached to discuss all the pros and cons of buying an IPL team. Modi also confirmed that the actor would be buying one of the new teams and was not interested in any of the existing ones.

“We were having a discussion for last few months but this is our first official meeting,” Modi said.


Modi said although it was too early to say anything but he felt the actor was a “serious buyer”.

“He was interested to know what it takes to own a team, what’s the process, when it will be initiated and what’s the timeline for it. I think he is a serious buyer,” Modi said.

IPL is set to introduce two new teams in the 2011 season and the franchise may “cost over USD 200-300 million.

Asked if he was interested in any particular existing team or a new team, Modi said “it’s for a new team”.

It has been learnt that Salman eyes to buy either Nagpur or Kochi team.

A lot of Bollywood actors are a part of the cash-rich T20 League with Shah Rukh Khan owning the Kolkata Knight Riders, Preity Zinta with partner Ness Wadia owning the Kings XI Punjab, and Shilpa Shetty, with beau Raj Kundra, owning the Rajasthan Royals.

Modi also dropped hints that more celebrity names might come up with the process going into the later stages as it was a hot venture at the moment.

“We have large number of people interested in it with over 20 celebrities asking to become franchisees, although I don’t want to name them,” he said.

Modi also admitted that having a film star added to the glitter of the event.

“It does add to the spark (of the event),” he said.

Asked whether other Bollywood stars like Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt were also keen to bid for IPL teams, Modi said these were just speculation.

“Honestly speaking, none of them have approached us. These are just speculation. It is too early to say who are the people who will bid for the teams”, he said.

Modi said the IPL organising committee will inform all the prospective buyers once it begins the bidding process.

Salman-SRK rivalry has been doing the rounds currently after the latter was detained in an airport in the US for security check. Salman’s comments went against King Khan when he said that he (Salman) has always been checked and frisked while traveling in America and SRK’s issue should not be given much importance.

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1:55 AM

IPL Players need NOC from their home Board for a two-year period.

Delhi: As a measure of its commitment to safeguard international cricket, the Indian Premier League has decided that all IPL players, including retired cricketers, should provide a No Objection Certificate from their home Board for a two-year period.

The IPL will also not allow a cricketer to play in the cash-rich Twenty20 League if he skips participating in an approved Future Tours Programme event and instead opts to play for a franchise in the League.

A communication to this effect from IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has been sent to all the cricket boards last night, a media release said today.

The world`s premier Twenty20 League has also set a deadline of August 25 for all its franchises, eight in number currently, to disclose all the contracts they have signed with all the players.

"The IPL would update the player registry and publish a finalised list of registered players with the league on August 27", the release said.

The IPL has also advised its franchises not to use agents for hiring new players and instead deal directly with the cricketers in the wake of problems faced by the cricket boards because of some agents misguiding players and the franchises with detrimental effects on global cricket, the release said.

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10:00 AM

Ajit Agarkar

Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar Statistics
Born: 4 December 1977, Bombay (now Mumbai)
Major Teams: Mumbai, India.
Known As: Ajit Agarkar
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Medium
Test Debut: India v Zimbabwe at Harare, Only Test, 1998/99
ODI Debut: India v Australia at Kochi, Pepsi Triangular Series, 1997/98

Profile:
This right arm medium pacer from Mumbai is a thin looking fellow but is no push over which he
proved by racing to 50 wickets in one day internationals faster than anyone else - breaking the
record held by none other than Dennis Lillee. He came up through the India A ranks and in late
90s he was thought to be the most talented young all rounders in the Indian team. However, the
thought shattered when he performed poorly in subsequent Tests and ODI's. After a nightmarish
tour of Australia, his place in the national side came under severe scrutiny but the determination
and talent of this young man helped him in overcoming all the problems. During the year 2000 he
proved that he was far from washed up - particularly in the one day game. Towards the end of an
eventful year for him, Agarkar hit the fastest half century - off only 21 balls - to surpass a famous
record held by Kapil Dev, who reached the mark off in 22 balls in 1983. Now it is on the Indian
selectors to take care of him for he seems capable enough to take charge of India's bowling in the
coming years

He came up through the India A ranks and suddenly burst upon the scene in the late 90s as one of the most talented young all rounders in Indian cricket. A nippy medium pacer, capable of moving the ball both ways and a more than useful late order attacking batsman, Ajit Agarkar was hailed as the best thing to happen to Indian cricket for a long time. Great things were expected from this Shivaji Park product in Mumbai and Agarkar indicated that he would live upto early promise by racing to 50 wickets in one day internationals faster than anyone else - breaking the record held by none other than Dennis Lillee.

However, his subsequent record - both in Tests and ODI's - were a grave disappointment. Plagued by injuries, Agarkar was always struggling to hold his place in the side. He had a poor World Cup tournament and on his return sought advice from Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation. Nothing seemed to help however and after a nightmarish tour of Australia, his place in the national side came under severe scrutiny. After all, it could not have been easy to come back from five successive ducks in Test cricket - four of them off the first ball faced. But Agarkar is as determined as he is talented and during the year 2000 he proved that he was far from washed up - particularly in the one day game. Towards the end of an eventful year for him, Agarkar hit the fastest half century - off only 21 balls - to surpass a famous record held by Kapil Dev, who reached the mark off 22 balls in 1983. At the start of the new millennium, Agarkar seems to have cemented his place in the side as a fiercely competitive, dependable - and sometimes even exciting - cricketer.

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11:08 AM