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.
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