Chennai: Out of the national side for the past three years, pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji has been included as an additional bowler in the Indian Premier League's (IPL) Chennai Super Kings team.
Announcing Balaji's inclusion, V B Chandrasekar, a former selector and head of cricketing matters in the Chennai Super Kings, said, "We have pitchforked him in our team as an additional bowler. He has been in action after recovery from injury in the TNCA's first division matches this season."
"Balaji has been effective in two spells of 10 overs, though he has not been tried on the trot. He is surely going to be a lethal weapon in our scheme of things in the Twenty20 IPL matches," he said.
He said the whole composition of the team has to be decided this evening and the squad list would be sent to BCCI's IPL Committee first.
"This is mandatory. We cannot officially release the list to the media now. You will have two or three more surprises in our composition. We also have plans to launch the team by month end," he said.
Balaji was sidelined after a stress fracture and had last played for India in 2005, during the Indian Oil Cup in Sri Lanka.
He returned to action in the Irani Trophy match and Challenger Trophy matches for India Red at Chennai in 2006.
Balaji, with his open-chested action and a wide off the crease line, made his Test debut against New Zealand at Ahmedabad in October 2003.
The Chennai-based pacer received accolades for his all round display from none other than Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf during India's 2004 tour of Pakistan.
He bagged 12 wickets in three Tests on that tour. He has claimed 27 and 34 wickets in eight tests (Av.37.18) and 29 ODIs (Ave.38.58) respectively.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Royal Challengers - Game for Life!
The Royal Challengers website is up. The tag line for the team is Game for life! . The website features fan club, team news, player info, statistics and wallpapers. Also you could support the royal challengers and stand a chance to walk on the pitch with Dravid for toss.
The promo videos are not yet put up. Stay tuned on the RC website for their team promo video which will feature Katrina kaif, Deepika Padukone, Dravid, Zaheer and Virat Kohli.
Until then… Say Cheers!
URL: www.royalchallengers.com
The Unstoppables - Deccan Chargers
The star studded and power packed team of Hyderabad has finally unveiled their team website. A great logo and a neat website. The team promo video somewhat resembles the hero honda hunk advertisement. The website has news, player infos and fan club. Really love their logo. No glimpses of their jerseys yet!
URL: www.deccanchargers.com
Check out their team anthem and promotional video. The bulls of IPL are the “Deccan chargers”, charging in on their opponents eh?
Mohali team is named as ‘Kings XI Punjab‘. Happen to see an interview article published on The Telegraph dated 6th March 2008 in which Karun Paul gives an insight on partnering with Preity, buying Yuvi and Lee, setting goals for Apeejay group. In the interview he says the team would be named as Kings XI Punjab.
Article Url: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080306/jsp/entertainment/story_8983974.jsp
The Knights of Kolkata have arrived. It’s time for the Kings of Mohali to make their appearance. Kings have their logo as a shield with roaring lions. Let’s see when the website gets unveiled.
ICC to keep a tab on IPL
Dubai: The International Cricket Council decided to closely monitor Indian Premier League (IPL) to ensure that it works in harmony with international cricket.
The ICC has made it clear that bilateral commitments of members will take precedence over IPL fixtures.
The IPL will have to follow certain terms and conditions. All member nations have been given the right to lodge an objection to any player from playing in the IPL. This objection can be lodged up to two years after that player's retirement.
David Morgan confirmed that IPL is an official event and that ICL is an unofficial event.
The ICC officially announced the appointment of India's I.S. Bindra as ICC's principal advisor.
The ICC has made it clear that bilateral commitments of members will take precedence over IPL fixtures.
The IPL will have to follow certain terms and conditions. All member nations have been given the right to lodge an objection to any player from playing in the IPL. This objection can be lodged up to two years after that player's retirement.
David Morgan confirmed that IPL is an official event and that ICL is an unofficial event.
The ICC officially announced the appointment of India's I.S. Bindra as ICC's principal advisor.
Fresh IPL battle on the cards?
Mumbai, March 19: : For the first time ever, since the formation of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the International Cricket Councl (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have formally met, discussed and emerged with a few vital decisions that will eventually have a large role to play in the league’s high-profile ten-year programme.
When the ICC board met in Dubai for a two-day working committee meeting, the first day was spent agreeing upon an official policy regarding the IPL. The ICC board stressed on a few points and the BCCI, which according to the ICC represented the meeting as the owner of the IPL, agreed to the terms and will now sign a standard-form contract with all the full member nations.
The biggest surprise to come out of the meeting is that the BCCI did not, according to the release, put in a formal request to include the IPL in the ICC’s Future Tours Programme. Such an inclusion would have provided franchise owners some relief, keeping in mind the amount of money that has been spent.
The ICC board raised five issues which are bound to directly or indirectly concern the IPL. Certain points, such as nation-versus-nation cricket being given high priority and IPL introducing a Code of Conduct, an anti-corruption code and anti-doping code according to ICC regulations are mandatory, and can be easily accommodated.
However, once the franchise owners of the league come across some other issues raised and agreed upon, there is bound to be a bit of quiver in the otherwise smooth proceedings.
Here’s a brief look of the ICC terms and conditions and what it could mean...
A) Each ICC member will have an unfettered right in its absolute discretion to lodge an objection to a player from its country playing in the IPL
A possible result to this particular rule in future could be a growing dissent among players, who are being paid in millions. The IPL has in place a strict rule asking players to procure a No Objection Certificate from their respective boards to take part in the league. Once the NOC is procured and these players sign up with the IPL, an objection to a player participating in the league could lead to legal complications.
The franchise owners will end up buying players or using the transfer window next year onwards only after being assured that these players are available either fully or partially as per the contract signed for three years.
If any situation arises out of a conflict between the player and his board, it will directly affect the interest of the team owner.
B) The objection can be lodged up to two years after the player’s retirement
The IPL had earlier initiated a rule that said that players would not be able to take part in the league for two years after retirement. This is a variation of that. This basically ensures that players cannot hold their boards to ransom and will prevent them from cutting short their international careers to play in the IPL. Also, if the player is in his second year of an IPL contract and his board then has any particular objection, it could lead to harming his financial interest or even that of the franchise owner.
C) All such objections will be respected by the IPL and its various franchises and the player in question will not be selected to play
The Indian Express spoke to a few officials from franchise teams, and the consensus remains that this particular rule could be subject to speculation.
The objection raised to a particular player in question by any member board will be respected by IPL and team owners.
However, the general view remains that it should also not harm the team owners’ view directly in terms of financial remuneration being offered to a player, breach of any contract or the team’s prospects.
D) Bilateral commitments will take precedence over IPL fixtures
This particular rule immediately brings to memory the Kerry Packer days. Players being paid in millions could disagree to playing bilateral tours that will harm their financial interests. Already, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is trying to waive off a few days of their scheduled series against Australia to ensure Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle can play in the IPL. Even players such as Daniel Vettori and Scott Styris are currently in talks with New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan so as to allow them to play in the IPL and join the national team later than scheduled during the upcoming tour of England.
While most of these rules were expected, and are in place to assuage fears that the IPL would threaten the position of national teams, the fact that BCCI did not push for the FTP at all actually means that all the above fears have a better chance of coming true.
The ICC insists that IPL is a good concept and brings benefits to the game. It is also willing to work more closely with the BCCI in this regard. For now though, it does seem as if the BCCI and the ICC have agreed that all headaches will rest solely with the franchise owners.
Other decisions taken
* Hair reinstated as Test Umpire
Darrell Hair, who had been banned since November 2006 because of his conduct during a Test between Pakistan and England that led to the first forfeit in Test cricket’s 129-year history finally got a green signal from the International Cricket Council and would be reinstated as a Test umpire and his position will be reviewed at the end of March 2009. Hair’s appointment comes after he completed his ‘rehabilitation program’
* Champions Trophy on schedule
The ICC Board gave their green signal to the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28. The tournament will be held in three venues across the country though a final decision on the venues is yet to be made. Also a full independent security assessment of the situation in Pakistan will be conducted in June.
When the ICC board met in Dubai for a two-day working committee meeting, the first day was spent agreeing upon an official policy regarding the IPL. The ICC board stressed on a few points and the BCCI, which according to the ICC represented the meeting as the owner of the IPL, agreed to the terms and will now sign a standard-form contract with all the full member nations.
The biggest surprise to come out of the meeting is that the BCCI did not, according to the release, put in a formal request to include the IPL in the ICC’s Future Tours Programme. Such an inclusion would have provided franchise owners some relief, keeping in mind the amount of money that has been spent.
The ICC board raised five issues which are bound to directly or indirectly concern the IPL. Certain points, such as nation-versus-nation cricket being given high priority and IPL introducing a Code of Conduct, an anti-corruption code and anti-doping code according to ICC regulations are mandatory, and can be easily accommodated.
However, once the franchise owners of the league come across some other issues raised and agreed upon, there is bound to be a bit of quiver in the otherwise smooth proceedings.
Here’s a brief look of the ICC terms and conditions and what it could mean...
A) Each ICC member will have an unfettered right in its absolute discretion to lodge an objection to a player from its country playing in the IPL
A possible result to this particular rule in future could be a growing dissent among players, who are being paid in millions. The IPL has in place a strict rule asking players to procure a No Objection Certificate from their respective boards to take part in the league. Once the NOC is procured and these players sign up with the IPL, an objection to a player participating in the league could lead to legal complications.
The franchise owners will end up buying players or using the transfer window next year onwards only after being assured that these players are available either fully or partially as per the contract signed for three years.
If any situation arises out of a conflict between the player and his board, it will directly affect the interest of the team owner.
B) The objection can be lodged up to two years after the player’s retirement
The IPL had earlier initiated a rule that said that players would not be able to take part in the league for two years after retirement. This is a variation of that. This basically ensures that players cannot hold their boards to ransom and will prevent them from cutting short their international careers to play in the IPL. Also, if the player is in his second year of an IPL contract and his board then has any particular objection, it could lead to harming his financial interest or even that of the franchise owner.
C) All such objections will be respected by the IPL and its various franchises and the player in question will not be selected to play
The Indian Express spoke to a few officials from franchise teams, and the consensus remains that this particular rule could be subject to speculation.
The objection raised to a particular player in question by any member board will be respected by IPL and team owners.
However, the general view remains that it should also not harm the team owners’ view directly in terms of financial remuneration being offered to a player, breach of any contract or the team’s prospects.
D) Bilateral commitments will take precedence over IPL fixtures
This particular rule immediately brings to memory the Kerry Packer days. Players being paid in millions could disagree to playing bilateral tours that will harm their financial interests. Already, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is trying to waive off a few days of their scheduled series against Australia to ensure Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle can play in the IPL. Even players such as Daniel Vettori and Scott Styris are currently in talks with New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan so as to allow them to play in the IPL and join the national team later than scheduled during the upcoming tour of England.
While most of these rules were expected, and are in place to assuage fears that the IPL would threaten the position of national teams, the fact that BCCI did not push for the FTP at all actually means that all the above fears have a better chance of coming true.
The ICC insists that IPL is a good concept and brings benefits to the game. It is also willing to work more closely with the BCCI in this regard. For now though, it does seem as if the BCCI and the ICC have agreed that all headaches will rest solely with the franchise owners.
Other decisions taken
* Hair reinstated as Test Umpire
Darrell Hair, who had been banned since November 2006 because of his conduct during a Test between Pakistan and England that led to the first forfeit in Test cricket’s 129-year history finally got a green signal from the International Cricket Council and would be reinstated as a Test umpire and his position will be reviewed at the end of March 2009. Hair’s appointment comes after he completed his ‘rehabilitation program’
* Champions Trophy on schedule
The ICC Board gave their green signal to the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28. The tournament will be held in three venues across the country though a final decision on the venues is yet to be made. Also a full independent security assessment of the situation in Pakistan will be conducted in June.
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