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.
PepsiCo India has signed a $12.5-million deal
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: PepsiCo India has signed a $12.5-million deal with Lalit Modi-promoted Indian Premier League for five years as the event’s official beverage partner. Sources said IPL is expected to sell more slots such as travel and hotel partners, but on a cost basis, the details of which are being worked out. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla confirmed PepsiCo’s association with IPL as beverage partner. PepsiCo India EVP marketing Sandeep Singh Arora maintained: “We are in negotiations with IPL towards the beverage sponsorship deal.” But a BCCI official said: “PepsiCo has acquired pouring rights for the IPL for $2.5 million per annum, for a five-year period.”
The money will be split among IPL’s eight franchisee owners of the Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mohali, Jaipur and Hyderabad teams and not the IPL management. This is in contrast to all earlier IPL sponsorships, in which the IPL promoters have been beneficiaries of the deals. The move will strengthen PepsiCo’s association with cricket. PepsiCo has already committed about $60 million to the International Cricket Council (ICC) as one of its global sponsors for an eight-year period (2007-15). Unlike rival Coca-Cola, PepsiCo has associated itself with international and domestic cricket in a big way. Considering that the title sponsorship for IPL was bought by real estate major DLF for Rs 200 crore for a five-year term, PepsiCo’s pouring rights deal is big money. In addition, two-wheeler company Hero Honda has also signed up as a co-sponsor. IPL is looking at six co-sponsors, including Hero Honda. IPL is currently talking to players in categories such as insurance, telecom, banking, automobile and retail, all of which are expected to be closed next week.
The money will be split among IPL’s eight franchisee owners of the Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mohali, Jaipur and Hyderabad teams and not the IPL management. This is in contrast to all earlier IPL sponsorships, in which the IPL promoters have been beneficiaries of the deals. The move will strengthen PepsiCo’s association with cricket. PepsiCo has already committed about $60 million to the International Cricket Council (ICC) as one of its global sponsors for an eight-year period (2007-15). Unlike rival Coca-Cola, PepsiCo has associated itself with international and domestic cricket in a big way. Considering that the title sponsorship for IPL was bought by real estate major DLF for Rs 200 crore for a five-year term, PepsiCo’s pouring rights deal is big money. In addition, two-wheeler company Hero Honda has also signed up as a co-sponsor. IPL is looking at six co-sponsors, including Hero Honda. IPL is currently talking to players in categories such as insurance, telecom, banking, automobile and retail, all of which are expected to be closed next week.
IPL to cross 500 cr sponsorship mark
New Delhi: The numbers sounded so unbelievable that for a while it seemed like Lalit Modi was pulling a fast one on the Indian cricket market. But the sponsors are queuing up at the gates of the Indian Premier League, and projections are turning into fat cheques. The IPL central revenues were hovering on the 500-crore mark and still the dust hasn’t settled. The latest to come on board are Kingfisher Airlines, who have paid 106 crore to become official umpire partners for the tournament.This deal gives Kingfisher Airlines branding on the clothing that match officials wear, and crucially on giant screens when the third umpire’s decision is pending. DLF was the first to come on board, as title sponsor, and they pay out 200 crore over five years. Hero Honda then came on as one of potentially six associate sponsors at 90 crore. The cola wars fuelled the next bonanza as PepsiCo forked out 50 crore to become official beverage partners of the tournament. What’s interesting is that Kingfisher, part of the UB Group, own the Bangalore Royal Challengers franchise, but this did not stop them from becoming associate sponsors of the Delhi Daredevils. “Kingfisher’s decision bears testimony to the fact that the DLF Indian Premier League is here to stay and is set to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the international cricket calendar,” said Modi soon after the signing. What’s more, at least two others, a major oil company and a designer jewellery line are on the verge to signing on the dotted line as associate sponsors. What these deals do is lessen the financial burden on individual franchisees each of whom receive 80% of central revenues for the first five years. A number-cruncher closely monitoring IPL finances believed that each franchise would end up getting close to Rs 28 crore annually for the first five years, from these central revenues. In addition to this franchisees have 100% rights over local revenues, which include gate receipts, team shirt sponsorships, merchandising, local sponsorship and licensing, hospitality and match day promotions
IPL stakeholders in touch with rivals will get banned
The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) has warned companies and agents allied to it that they will be “blacklisted” if they linked up with any rebel league as well. The punishment would also extend to players aligned to these stakeholers. The IPL decision is a reaction to some “aggressive” business approaches adopted by its rivals in the world. But the IPL, backed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), has not named any rebel league from which it feels threatened.
“The IPL governing council decided that if anyone, a company or agents, who has anything to do with it is found to be linked with any rebel leagues, directly or indirectly, it will blacklisted,” a source in the BCCI told IANS.
IPL Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman said the warning had nothing to do with any particular case that might have brought a conflict of interest between IPL and any rebel tournament, particularly the ongoing Indian Cricket League (ICL), promoted by business tycoon Subhash Chandra.
“We are just being protective of our things,” Raman told IANS.
IPL has taken the precaution as huge amounts of money are at stake in the lucrative, path breaking and popular Twenty20 tournament. The league, starting April 18 and lasting 45 days, will have eight teams competing for the top prize of $3 million.
Some of India’s richest businessmen and Bollywood stars, including Mukesh Ambani, Vijay Mallya and Shah Rukh Khan, have bought IPL team franchises for millions of dollars. They have additionally spent huge sums on buying Indian and foreign players, making IPL the richest tournament in cricket history.
“It has been sternly communicated to all concerned with the IPL that if their association with any rebel league is established, the BCCI or the IPL will debar them and discontinue all businesses with them,” said the source on condition of anonymity.
“The IPL was forced to issue the warning as the rivals have started recruiting people with an extremely aggressive intent,” the source added.
Companies and their agents have also been told that any transgressions would result in their players also being debarred from the tournament.
“The companies and players’ agents have been warned that if they try to make money by working for any rival camp, they and their players would be banned from playing in the IPL,” the source pointed out.
Many foreign players from Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, the West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe entered the IPL auction through management companies or their agents.
“The IPL governing council decided that if anyone, a company or agents, who has anything to do with it is found to be linked with any rebel leagues, directly or indirectly, it will blacklisted,” a source in the BCCI told IANS.
IPL Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman said the warning had nothing to do with any particular case that might have brought a conflict of interest between IPL and any rebel tournament, particularly the ongoing Indian Cricket League (ICL), promoted by business tycoon Subhash Chandra.
“We are just being protective of our things,” Raman told IANS.
IPL has taken the precaution as huge amounts of money are at stake in the lucrative, path breaking and popular Twenty20 tournament. The league, starting April 18 and lasting 45 days, will have eight teams competing for the top prize of $3 million.
Some of India’s richest businessmen and Bollywood stars, including Mukesh Ambani, Vijay Mallya and Shah Rukh Khan, have bought IPL team franchises for millions of dollars. They have additionally spent huge sums on buying Indian and foreign players, making IPL the richest tournament in cricket history.
“It has been sternly communicated to all concerned with the IPL that if their association with any rebel league is established, the BCCI or the IPL will debar them and discontinue all businesses with them,” said the source on condition of anonymity.
“The IPL was forced to issue the warning as the rivals have started recruiting people with an extremely aggressive intent,” the source added.
Companies and their agents have also been told that any transgressions would result in their players also being debarred from the tournament.
“The companies and players’ agents have been warned that if they try to make money by working for any rival camp, they and their players would be banned from playing in the IPL,” the source pointed out.
Many foreign players from Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, the West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe entered the IPL auction through management companies or their agents.
Hero Honda-IPL deal now for five years
Mumbai, March 7 (IANS) Hero Honda have extended their association with the Indian Premier League (IPL) to five years. The company, which had initially agreed to co-sponsor the Twenty20 tournament for three years have now decided to do so for five at a cost of $22.5 million, according to an announcement made by Hero Honda MD Pawan Munjal. The title sponsors are DLF. Eight teams of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mohali, Jaipur and Bangalore will compete from April 18 in the IPL, which will see 59 Twenty20 matches.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India sold the eight franchises for $723 million while Sony Max and World Sport Group (WSG) secured the telecast rights for $1.026 billion.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India sold the eight franchises for $723 million while Sony Max and World Sport Group (WSG) secured the telecast rights for $1.026 billion.
Kingfisher sponsors IPL umpires for Rs.1.06 billion
Mumbai, March 20 (IANS) Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines will pay the Indian Premier League (IPL) Rs.106 crores (Rs.1.06 billion or $26.17 million) to sponsor the umpires for five years for the Twenty20 tournament beginning next month. While announcing the deal here Thursday, Lalit Modi, IPL chairman and commissioner, said that the airline would be known as the Umpire Partner for the eight-team tournament.
“Kingfisher Airlines has had a long association with a variety of sports, at both the domestic and international levels, including tennis, Formula 1, polo and now cricket. Their decision bears testimony to the fact that the DLF IPL is here to stay and is set to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the international cricket calendar,” he said in a statement.
Kingfisher chairman and CEO Mallya, who had bought the Bangalore Royal Challengers for $106 million, said he was happy to acquire the sponsorship for the umpires.
“Our five-year association with the IPL is further testimony to our commitment to building the Kingfisher Airlines brand through sports. The DLF Indian Premier League is a highly innovative concept and the Twenty20 format will undoubtedly take cricket’s popularity to a new high,” he said.
“Kingfisher Airlines will present the DLF IPL umpires in a completely new and modern style while retaining their critical role in the sport.”
Earlier, broadcaster Sony Max and World Sport Group had bagged IPL’s global media and production rights for $1.026 billion.
Soft drink giant Pepsi has paid $12.5 million to be the official beverage partner for five years.
The eight competing IPL teams are Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mohali, Kolkata and Jaipur.
A total of 59 matches will be played over 45 days starting April 18, with each team playing seven home and seven away matches. The top four teams in the league will contest the semi-finals and the winners will vie for the top prize of $3 million in the final June 1 in Mumbai.
“Kingfisher Airlines has had a long association with a variety of sports, at both the domestic and international levels, including tennis, Formula 1, polo and now cricket. Their decision bears testimony to the fact that the DLF IPL is here to stay and is set to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the international cricket calendar,” he said in a statement.
Kingfisher chairman and CEO Mallya, who had bought the Bangalore Royal Challengers for $106 million, said he was happy to acquire the sponsorship for the umpires.
“Our five-year association with the IPL is further testimony to our commitment to building the Kingfisher Airlines brand through sports. The DLF Indian Premier League is a highly innovative concept and the Twenty20 format will undoubtedly take cricket’s popularity to a new high,” he said.
“Kingfisher Airlines will present the DLF IPL umpires in a completely new and modern style while retaining their critical role in the sport.”
Earlier, broadcaster Sony Max and World Sport Group had bagged IPL’s global media and production rights for $1.026 billion.
Soft drink giant Pepsi has paid $12.5 million to be the official beverage partner for five years.
The eight competing IPL teams are Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mohali, Kolkata and Jaipur.
A total of 59 matches will be played over 45 days starting April 18, with each team playing seven home and seven away matches. The top four teams in the league will contest the semi-finals and the winners will vie for the top prize of $3 million in the final June 1 in Mumbai.
IPL: Kingfisher is umpire partner
IPL: Kingfisher is umpire partner
Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)-promoted DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 championship augmented its Central Pool sponsorship revenue to Rs. 446 crore for a period of five years with Kingfisher Airlines coming on board as the official umpire partner.
Kingfisher Airlines will pay the IPL $26.5 million (Rs. 106 crore). The IPL now has commitments from real estate major DLF for Rs. 200 crore for the title sponsorship, Hero Honda as co-sponsor at $22.5 million (Rs.90 crore), PepsiCo India as the beverage partner at $12.5 million (Rs. 50 crore) and Kingfisher Airlines as the umpire sponsor.
The UB Group, owned by Vijay Mallya, had first bought the Bangalore region (Royal Challengers) at $111.6 million for 10 years and thereafter Kingfisher became the associate sponsor of the Delhi Daredevils team.
Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines said that the five-year association as official umpire partner with the DLF-IPL was further testimony to the company’s commitment to build the Kingfisher Airlines brand through sports.
The eight franchise owners are to share 80 per cent of the revenue from the Global Media Rights for the first five years and 60 per cent from the sixth to the 10th year and a uniform 60 per cent of revenue generated from other sponsorships for 10 years.
According to observers, the eight franchisees will receive between $6 and 7 million from the Central Pool for each of the first five years. Furthermore, the eight teams have 100 per cent right on revenue earned from franchisee shirt sponsorship, local sponsorship, licensing programme, uniform merchandising, hospitality and premium seating, gate receipts, match-day concessions and match-day promotions. — Special Correspondent
Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)-promoted DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 championship augmented its Central Pool sponsorship revenue to Rs. 446 crore for a period of five years with Kingfisher Airlines coming on board as the official umpire partner.
Kingfisher Airlines will pay the IPL $26.5 million (Rs. 106 crore). The IPL now has commitments from real estate major DLF for Rs. 200 crore for the title sponsorship, Hero Honda as co-sponsor at $22.5 million (Rs.90 crore), PepsiCo India as the beverage partner at $12.5 million (Rs. 50 crore) and Kingfisher Airlines as the umpire sponsor.
The UB Group, owned by Vijay Mallya, had first bought the Bangalore region (Royal Challengers) at $111.6 million for 10 years and thereafter Kingfisher became the associate sponsor of the Delhi Daredevils team.
Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines said that the five-year association as official umpire partner with the DLF-IPL was further testimony to the company’s commitment to build the Kingfisher Airlines brand through sports.
The eight franchise owners are to share 80 per cent of the revenue from the Global Media Rights for the first five years and 60 per cent from the sixth to the 10th year and a uniform 60 per cent of revenue generated from other sponsorships for 10 years.
According to observers, the eight franchisees will receive between $6 and 7 million from the Central Pool for each of the first five years. Furthermore, the eight teams have 100 per cent right on revenue earned from franchisee shirt sponsorship, local sponsorship, licensing programme, uniform merchandising, hospitality and premium seating, gate receipts, match-day concessions and match-day promotions. — Special Correspondent
Sledging is out as Indian league gets a lesson in spirit of the game
Concerns that the integrity of international cricket is being undermined by sledging, cheating and a growing lack of respect for umpires and opponents has prompted the billion-dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) to take a stand to reinforce the spirit and laws of the game.
The eight captains and players taking part in the six-week tournament will, on the day of the opening match on April 18 in Bangalore, sign a pledge to embrace the “Spirit of Cricket”, the preamble to the laws of the game as drawn up by the late Colin Cowdrey and officially adopted by MCC, of which he was a president. He was also chairman of the ICC.
Appropriately, Chris Cowdrey, Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge’s eldest son and a former England captain, will be invited to India, his father’s birthplace, to witness the initiative of Lalit Modi, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has the full support of the Cowdrey family.
The move is timely, given recent events, particularly the rancour of the recent India tour to Australia. “It is a great principle and it is important that the Spirit of Cricket is something the IPL embraces,” Modi, who is also the IPL chairman, said. “It will be part of our tournament. It is absolutely apt for us.
“Sledging has become a serious issue and in some instances has got out of control. In the IPL we have for the first time in history players from different countries playing together and the fact that this is the case will help to prevent any problems in the future.
“These players will be able to establish a second set of friendships beyond their own national teams. It is so exciting. There has been a lot of concern at the level of sledging and intimidation that has appeared in our game. It is the right time to make a public stand. It is important that we show to the world that we endorse the Spirit of Cricket.”
Modi denied that the declaration was an exercise to deflect criticism aimed at the fledgeling tournament for merely being a business venture, the scale of which has led to fears that it could pose a threat to Test cricket. “Not at all,” Modi said. “It is important that we set an example for cricket. This tournament is not about making money purely for profit. IPL is part of BCCI, a nonprofit organisation. Money will be made, but that money goes back 100 per cent into the game to build the game.”
Chris Cowdrey said that he was delighted that the Spirit of Cricket was back on the agenda. “My father saw cricket positioned between two sports – golf and football,” he said. “In one there is self-regulation from the players resulting in, on the whole, immaculate behaviour. In the other there is anarchy, with the accepted practice being to cheat and intimidate referees.
“The Spirit of Cricket puts the onus on each captain to make sure that his players show respect for the umpires and the opposition and that unfair play and cheating is not tolerated. This is arguably the biggest issue in the game today. My father would be so thrilled if it were his beloved India which made this stand. People have dismissed the Spirit of Cricket concept as some outdated Corinthian ideal. It is not.
“There is a golden opportunity to leave a positive legacy for the millions of youngsters in India and across the globe who emulate every move of their heroes – their conduct and demeanour – and aspire to play cricket.
“If you talk to Ricky Ponting [the Australia captain], he is right up for it. Everyone is committed to it. Where it goes wrong is in people not knowing what the Spirit of Cricket is. It needs to be up in lights not because of the old man but because everyone knows it is the right way to go. It is a brave decision by Mr Modi to stand up for everything that is good about cricket.”
The eight captains and players taking part in the six-week tournament will, on the day of the opening match on April 18 in Bangalore, sign a pledge to embrace the “Spirit of Cricket”, the preamble to the laws of the game as drawn up by the late Colin Cowdrey and officially adopted by MCC, of which he was a president. He was also chairman of the ICC.
Appropriately, Chris Cowdrey, Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge’s eldest son and a former England captain, will be invited to India, his father’s birthplace, to witness the initiative of Lalit Modi, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has the full support of the Cowdrey family.
The move is timely, given recent events, particularly the rancour of the recent India tour to Australia. “It is a great principle and it is important that the Spirit of Cricket is something the IPL embraces,” Modi, who is also the IPL chairman, said. “It will be part of our tournament. It is absolutely apt for us.
“Sledging has become a serious issue and in some instances has got out of control. In the IPL we have for the first time in history players from different countries playing together and the fact that this is the case will help to prevent any problems in the future.
“These players will be able to establish a second set of friendships beyond their own national teams. It is so exciting. There has been a lot of concern at the level of sledging and intimidation that has appeared in our game. It is the right time to make a public stand. It is important that we show to the world that we endorse the Spirit of Cricket.”
Modi denied that the declaration was an exercise to deflect criticism aimed at the fledgeling tournament for merely being a business venture, the scale of which has led to fears that it could pose a threat to Test cricket. “Not at all,” Modi said. “It is important that we set an example for cricket. This tournament is not about making money purely for profit. IPL is part of BCCI, a nonprofit organisation. Money will be made, but that money goes back 100 per cent into the game to build the game.”
Chris Cowdrey said that he was delighted that the Spirit of Cricket was back on the agenda. “My father saw cricket positioned between two sports – golf and football,” he said. “In one there is self-regulation from the players resulting in, on the whole, immaculate behaviour. In the other there is anarchy, with the accepted practice being to cheat and intimidate referees.
“The Spirit of Cricket puts the onus on each captain to make sure that his players show respect for the umpires and the opposition and that unfair play and cheating is not tolerated. This is arguably the biggest issue in the game today. My father would be so thrilled if it were his beloved India which made this stand. People have dismissed the Spirit of Cricket concept as some outdated Corinthian ideal. It is not.
“There is a golden opportunity to leave a positive legacy for the millions of youngsters in India and across the globe who emulate every move of their heroes – their conduct and demeanour – and aspire to play cricket.
“If you talk to Ricky Ponting [the Australia captain], he is right up for it. Everyone is committed to it. Where it goes wrong is in people not knowing what the Spirit of Cricket is. It needs to be up in lights not because of the old man but because everyone knows it is the right way to go. It is a brave decision by Mr Modi to stand up for everything that is good about cricket.”
CA worried over IPL’s influence on calendar
Melbourne: Cricket Australia has expressed concerns that the success of the DLF-Indian Premier League may have a negative influence on the international calendar in future.
James Sutherland, CEO of the CA, said the cash-rich league may ask for more weeks for conducting the Twenty20 event as it gains popularity.
“It’s a six-week window one day, does it creep into eight, 10, 12 weeks when the IPL becomes a great success?,” Sutherland was quoted as saying in The Age on Tuesday.
“The moment it starts to compromise international cricket, we have concerns and doubts about the whole thing,” he added.
Sutherland’s fears stem from the fact that the West Indies Cricket Board has allowed three of its players to play in the inaugural IPL, instead of in the Tests against Australia in May and June in the Caribbean.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, will be unavailable for the opening two Tests of the series if their IPL sides make the finals.
Donald Peters, WICB Chief Executive Officer, said that there was little chance of stopping them with so much money on offer.
“Given the amount of money involved, it certainly destabilises the infrastructure of cricket” he said.
Peters, however, was confident that the series against Australia would be a success even without big names.
James Sutherland, CEO of the CA, said the cash-rich league may ask for more weeks for conducting the Twenty20 event as it gains popularity.
“It’s a six-week window one day, does it creep into eight, 10, 12 weeks when the IPL becomes a great success?,” Sutherland was quoted as saying in The Age on Tuesday.
“The moment it starts to compromise international cricket, we have concerns and doubts about the whole thing,” he added.
Sutherland’s fears stem from the fact that the West Indies Cricket Board has allowed three of its players to play in the inaugural IPL, instead of in the Tests against Australia in May and June in the Caribbean.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, will be unavailable for the opening two Tests of the series if their IPL sides make the finals.
Donald Peters, WICB Chief Executive Officer, said that there was little chance of stopping them with so much money on offer.
“Given the amount of money involved, it certainly destabilises the infrastructure of cricket” he said.
Peters, however, was confident that the series against Australia would be a success even without big names.
Big business and Bollywood grab stakes in IPL
Mumbai most expensive team costing US$111.9 million
The IPL continues to rake in the money with huge bids being received for the franchises
The Indian Premier League (IPL) took a huge step forward on Thursday with the naming of the eight city franchises and their owners, a mix of the biggest names in business and Bollywood. The auction to pick the owners fetched the IPL - which is backed by the Indian board - US$723.59 million, almost double the combined base price of US$400 million. Mumbai was the most expensive team, costing over US$111.9 million.
The franchisees come from several areas previously unconnected with cricket, testifying to the sport's growing profile as a blue-chip investment in India. Among the successful bidders were Bollywood's top stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, a Hyderabad-based newspaper group, a UK-based media rights company and the regular big players, Reliance Industries - owned by Mukesh Ambani, the richest Indian, and Vijay Mallya, who also owns a Formula 1 team. The failed bidders included Deutsche Bank and construction major DLF, and among those disqualified was ICICI Ventures.
"We can say that all the hard work fructified and the IPL is here to stay," the IPL chairman and commissioner, Lalit Modi, said. The league, which has the ICC's sanction, sees the teams play on a home-and-away basis and is due to begin on April 18.
A large part of the IPL's success will depend on its entertainment value as much as its sporting value and Modi, in his interaction, harped on how Bollywood and cricket are the two biggest box-office draws in India. The involvement of Khan, Zinta and Juhi Chawla - Khan's partner in the Kolkata franchise - takes care of the glamour quotient; Zinta's presence alone at the BCCI office in Mumbai saw a larger-than-usual media turnout.
Khan said he would take expert help before putting together a winning combination. "I have already decided on the entertainment part but we have not decided on the core and content of the team," he told the news channel CNN-IBN. "We want to put together a winning combination ... [but] I hope [Sourav] Ganguly leads my team."
The sporting element was established last month, when the IPL unveiled its roster of more than 70 international cricketers. They included some of the biggest names in current limited-overs cricket, and some from the recent past: Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Kumar Sangakkara and Graeme Smith. The affiliation of these players, and the Indian players involved, will be decided by a draft pick; it was originally slated for February 7 but will be finalised after consultation with the franchisees.
However, four top Indian players - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh - will not be included in the auction but will play for their home teams, to ensure maximum support.
The next step is for the IPL to be marketed, and Modi spoke of a multi-million-dollar campaign, with US$15 million coming from the media deal with the Sony Entertainment Television-World Sports Group combine and the IPL chipping in as well.
The one sour note was struck when Modi was asked whether there was a conflict of interests in India Cements, of which BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan is vice-chairman and managing director, becoming a team owner. "Mr Srinivasan is just a stakeholder there, he is not the owner," Modi said. "So there is no conflict of interests."
The winning bids City Franchise Owner Cost (in US$ millions)
Bangalore Vijay Mallya's UB group 111.6
Chennai India Cements 91
Delhi GMR Group 84
Hyderabad Deccan Chronicle 107
Jaipur Emerging Media-led consortium 67
Kolkata Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment 75.09
Mohali Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Karan Paul and Dabur's Mohit Burman 76
Mumbai Mukesh Ambani's Reliance India Limited 111.9
The IPL continues to rake in the money with huge bids being received for the franchises
The Indian Premier League (IPL) took a huge step forward on Thursday with the naming of the eight city franchises and their owners, a mix of the biggest names in business and Bollywood. The auction to pick the owners fetched the IPL - which is backed by the Indian board - US$723.59 million, almost double the combined base price of US$400 million. Mumbai was the most expensive team, costing over US$111.9 million.
The franchisees come from several areas previously unconnected with cricket, testifying to the sport's growing profile as a blue-chip investment in India. Among the successful bidders were Bollywood's top stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, a Hyderabad-based newspaper group, a UK-based media rights company and the regular big players, Reliance Industries - owned by Mukesh Ambani, the richest Indian, and Vijay Mallya, who also owns a Formula 1 team. The failed bidders included Deutsche Bank and construction major DLF, and among those disqualified was ICICI Ventures.
"We can say that all the hard work fructified and the IPL is here to stay," the IPL chairman and commissioner, Lalit Modi, said. The league, which has the ICC's sanction, sees the teams play on a home-and-away basis and is due to begin on April 18.
A large part of the IPL's success will depend on its entertainment value as much as its sporting value and Modi, in his interaction, harped on how Bollywood and cricket are the two biggest box-office draws in India. The involvement of Khan, Zinta and Juhi Chawla - Khan's partner in the Kolkata franchise - takes care of the glamour quotient; Zinta's presence alone at the BCCI office in Mumbai saw a larger-than-usual media turnout.
Khan said he would take expert help before putting together a winning combination. "I have already decided on the entertainment part but we have not decided on the core and content of the team," he told the news channel CNN-IBN. "We want to put together a winning combination ... [but] I hope [Sourav] Ganguly leads my team."
The sporting element was established last month, when the IPL unveiled its roster of more than 70 international cricketers. They included some of the biggest names in current limited-overs cricket, and some from the recent past: Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Kumar Sangakkara and Graeme Smith. The affiliation of these players, and the Indian players involved, will be decided by a draft pick; it was originally slated for February 7 but will be finalised after consultation with the franchisees.
However, four top Indian players - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh - will not be included in the auction but will play for their home teams, to ensure maximum support.
The next step is for the IPL to be marketed, and Modi spoke of a multi-million-dollar campaign, with US$15 million coming from the media deal with the Sony Entertainment Television-World Sports Group combine and the IPL chipping in as well.
The one sour note was struck when Modi was asked whether there was a conflict of interests in India Cements, of which BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan is vice-chairman and managing director, becoming a team owner. "Mr Srinivasan is just a stakeholder there, he is not the owner," Modi said. "So there is no conflict of interests."
The winning bids City Franchise Owner Cost (in US$ millions)
Bangalore Vijay Mallya's UB group 111.6
Chennai India Cements 91
Delhi GMR Group 84
Hyderabad Deccan Chronicle 107
Jaipur Emerging Media-led consortium 67
Kolkata Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment 75.09
Mohali Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Karan Paul and Dabur's Mohit Burman 76
Mumbai Mukesh Ambani's Reliance India Limited 111.9
First IPL cricket match in Bangalore: Modi
Mumbai: The first match of the much awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) will be held in Banglaore in April, while the semi-finals and the final will be in Mumbai, a top IPL official announced here on Friday."The final will be played June 1 and the semi finals May 30 and 31. These matches will be in Mumbai," IPL commissioner and chairman Lalit Modi told reporters after a meeting with the eight franchise owners and representatives of the match staging associations.
Modi said the IPL board has the option of staging these important matches either at the Brabourne Stadium of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) or the D.Y. Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai. "I guess they will choose CCI," he said.The opening match of the Indian cricket board-promoted tournament, based on Twenty20 matches, will be played between business tycoon Vijay Mallya's Bangalore and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata side at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium April 18.This was decided by the IPL governing council at a meeting in which the marketing strategy and guidelines were also thrashed out.Modi said the International Cricket Council (ICC) umpires would officiate the matches
Modi said the IPL board has the option of staging these important matches either at the Brabourne Stadium of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) or the D.Y. Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai. "I guess they will choose CCI," he said.The opening match of the Indian cricket board-promoted tournament, based on Twenty20 matches, will be played between business tycoon Vijay Mallya's Bangalore and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata side at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium April 18.This was decided by the IPL governing council at a meeting in which the marketing strategy and guidelines were also thrashed out.Modi said the International Cricket Council (ICC) umpires would officiate the matches
"Seven or eight ICC Elite Panel umpires and 16 Indian umpires would officiate. The match referees are being appointed and we already have the anti-corruption and anti-doping measures in place," he said.
On Cricket Australia's (CA) demand that its sponsors should not clash with those of the IPL, Modi said that no national team sponsors would get protection in the IPL."No team sponsors will get protection from IPL," he said. IPL will offer $3 million prize money while the Champion's Twenty20, to be contested by two teams from India Australia, England, South Africa and Pakistan, will offer $5 million.IPL will feature eight franchises in the first season, with each team playing seven home and away games against each another. IPL hopes to grow the eight franchises to 16 by 2010.
The IPL governing council comprises seven members. Besides Modi, the other members are: former Indian cricket board president I.S. Bindra, board vice-president Chirayu Amin and Delhi District and District Cricket Association president Arun Jaitley besides former Indian captains Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shashtri
Nations given veto power over IPL
Dimitri Mascarenhas is the only England player signed with the IPLThe International Cricket Council has granted national boards new powers in a bid to stop the Indian Premier League taking precedence over Test cricket.
The IPL is regarded as a domestic event but the ICC is giving member nations a right of veto over individual players.
The national board's veto can apply in respect of any cricketer, whether or not on a central contract.
And it can remain in force up to two years after an individual player has retired from international duty.
The ICC has agreed a standard-form contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the owner of the lucrative IPL, which begins in April.
The deal gives countries "absolute discretion" to lodge objections.
Any objection will have to be respected by the IPL, says the ICC, with the player in question not selected by his franchise.
This means any player seriously considering a long Test career - and a stint in the IPL Twenty20 competition - would have to fulfil his international commitments first.
West Indies coach John Dyson said he hoped IPL officials would allow three of his senior players - captain Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and their fellow batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan - sufficient time to prepare for Australia's visit in May.
"I expect our players to be back here a week before the Australian series," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"I think everyone here understands the dilemma our players will find themselves in if the pressure comes down from their IPL franchises," Dyson added.
"Gayle couldn't make anywhere near that kind of money here."
However the ICC's new rule does not prevent international players simply turning their back on Test cricket altogether to accept a more generous pay packet with the IPL.
ICC formalises guidelines for IPL
ICC executive board meeting
ICC formalises guidelines for IPL
Cricinfo staff
March 18, 2008
The ICC executive board has formalised its stand on the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying international cricket was its top priority and laying out guidelines to ensure it stayed that way. It also emerged from the meeting, in Dubai, that the ICC's Future Tours Programme will not be altered to suit the IPL as neither the league nor the Indian board, which runs it, made such a request.
Amid increasing uncertainty over the sanctity of the traditional format of the game, the ICC said 'nation-versus-nation' cricket will remain at the top of the pyramid and bilateral commitments between the boards will take precedence over IPL fixtures.
To underscore that the BCCI will, on behalf of the IPL, sign a standard-form contract with all ICC Members giving countries absolute discretion to lodge an objection to a player - anytime up to two years' of the player's retirement - from its country playing in the IPL. "This will be respected by the IPL, with the player in question not selected by his franchise," David Morgan, the ICC's president-elect, said.
The IPL, which begins on April 18, is a domestic Twenty20 competition in the sense that all teams - called franchises - are based in Indian cities and all matches will be played in India. However, much of its appeal lies in the fact that these franchises have signed up the world's leading players on contracts worth up to US$1.5 million a year.
This has sparked fears that players would prefer to play for the more lucrative IPL over their countries. New Zealand and West Indies are the major nations at particular risk of losing star names because they cannot come close to competing financially with the IPL.
ICC formalises guidelines for IPL
Cricinfo staff
March 18, 2008
The ICC executive board has formalised its stand on the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying international cricket was its top priority and laying out guidelines to ensure it stayed that way. It also emerged from the meeting, in Dubai, that the ICC's Future Tours Programme will not be altered to suit the IPL as neither the league nor the Indian board, which runs it, made such a request.
Amid increasing uncertainty over the sanctity of the traditional format of the game, the ICC said 'nation-versus-nation' cricket will remain at the top of the pyramid and bilateral commitments between the boards will take precedence over IPL fixtures.
To underscore that the BCCI will, on behalf of the IPL, sign a standard-form contract with all ICC Members giving countries absolute discretion to lodge an objection to a player - anytime up to two years' of the player's retirement - from its country playing in the IPL. "This will be respected by the IPL, with the player in question not selected by his franchise," David Morgan, the ICC's president-elect, said.
The IPL, which begins on April 18, is a domestic Twenty20 competition in the sense that all teams - called franchises - are based in Indian cities and all matches will be played in India. However, much of its appeal lies in the fact that these franchises have signed up the world's leading players on contracts worth up to US$1.5 million a year.
This has sparked fears that players would prefer to play for the more lucrative IPL over their countries. New Zealand and West Indies are the major nations at particular risk of losing star names because they cannot come close to competing financially with the IPL.
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