Cricket IPL: IPL will be Staged outside India

Page last updated at 07:51 GMT, Sunday, 22 March 2009

IPL will be staged outside India

The IPL is the most lucrative tournament in cricket Next month's Indian Premier League will be held outside the country after organisers failed to secure government approval for the matches to go ahead. The tournament clashes with the upcoming Indian general election, prompting fears over security. England and South Africa have both confirmed they have been approached by the IPL about hosting the event. Fears over safety were heightened after recent attacks on Sri Lanka's players in the Pakistan city of Lahore. IPL organisers have blamed the government for being unable to provide security for the showpiece tournament. "Due to the attitude of the government that it cannot provide security for the tournament, we are forced to take a decision to move the IPL out of India," said the country's cricket chief Shashank Manohar. "A final decision on the venue will be announced in two to three days." The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has released a statement confirming it has been asked by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to examine the feasibility of hosting the 2009 tournament. "Officials from both Boards have held exploratory discussions to relocate the tournament to England and Wales," read the statement. "Further meetings will be held during the forthcoming week." ECB chairman Giles Clarke had earlier said that England "stand ready to help" if the IPL asked for assistance. "We've got a close and friendly relationship with the BCCI and if they need any help on matters we'll be delighted to help if we can," Clarke told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme. And Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said he was confident England could host the event if required. We have to ensure that the quality of the tournament as expected by our fans is delivered to the fullest without any compromise IPL commissioner Lalit Modi "I'm sure it would be possible (to stage the IPL in England)," he told the BBC. "We have picked up lots of experience recently of hosting world-class events and the ECB can do that." There are logistical complications arising from the tournament being held in the UK as England play three Tests and five one-day internationals against the West Indies between 21 April and 26 May, which is then followed by the ICC World Twenty20 from 1 June. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has also announced in a statement that they have been approached by the BCCI. "We received an official approach this morning to be one of several options they are considering to host the tournament outside India," said CSA chief executive Gerald Majola. "We do not know what the other options are and it is not for us to comment on that. "At this stage we are looking forward to holding discussions with IPL officials to discuss the proposal in detail." The Sri Lankan Cricket Board have told BBC World Service Sport that they have offered to host the tournament. "Being a neighbouring country we feel we would be the ideal location for them to come and play this tournament," said the secretary of the Sri Lankan Board, Nishantha Ranathunga. "It is a good opportunity for Sri Lanka as well." General elections in India are spread over five days between April 16 and May 13, cutting significantly into the IPL's schedule which runs from April 10 to May 24. Two proposed itineraries were made to India's federal Home Ministry by IPL organisers but both were rejected as the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Andra Pradesh refused to allow the tournament to take place alongside the elections. Federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram said last week the elections were "unquestionably" the first priority for India's government. "I can't exempt any state government from giving to the election commission the forces they have promised," he said. "I have also made it clear that I cannot spare any central paramilitary forces (for the IPL)." Despite previous denials from IPL commissioner Lalit Modi that the tournament could be moved out of the country, the decision of the two states forced the hand of the BCCI. Concerns about security have been heightened after the recent attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team in the Pakistani city of Lahore at the beginning of March. The owners of the eight IPL franchises have been involved in discussions with event organisers and Manoj Badale, the chief executive of the Rajasthan Royals, who won the IPL last year, said a number of factors need to be considered before a choice of venue is made. "There are all sorts of implications but the financial ones are significant," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I think at this stage we've got clarity of what these options mean." "South Africa and England are definite options. The weather and the availability of grounds are a massive consideration. "Dubai has definitely been looked at and a couple of other options in the Middle East. Pietersen has said he may withdraw from the IPL over security fears The huge amounts of money involved in the IPL has attracted some of cricket's best players to the event, including England duo Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who become the most costly cricketers at the auction in February when they were sold for $1.55m (£1.1m) each. However, numerous players have voiced concerns about their safety with Pietersen stating recently that he would withdraw if his security fears were not dealt with. Flintoff though has expressed his disappointment at being denied the chance to savour the experience in India. "It's disappointing news because one of the big attractions for me about the IPL was playing in India," he said. "It's unfortunate but if we don't do that this year then hopefully we can do it again next year." Modi said the integrity of the event was paramount in any decision that is made and hinted that the IPL would be willing to underwrite the losses of the franchises arising from the decision to move the tournament abroad. "The revenue model and costs is of no concern and should not be a concern," he said. "Revenue is not the issue. The issue is the integrity of the tournament. This is a 59-match tournament and it will remain a 59-match tournament. Cricket fans in India reflect on IPL's move abroad for the season "The president of the BCCI has authorised the IPL to ensure that we do not cut corners and we deliver a tournament of world standard wherever it is played in the world." Despite the change in venue, Modi insists that the tournament schedule will go ahead as originally planned, including start times for matches. "We have to ensure that the quality of the tournament as expected by our fans is delivered to the fullest without any compromise," he said. "What is critical for us is that Indian viewers get to watch the matches at 1600 and 2000 IST. That is what we are aiming for and that is what we will achieve." This would mean fixtures will be at 1130 and 1530 GMT in England.

Cricket IPL: Flintoff hopes for IPL in England

Page last updated at 09:02 GMT, Monday, 23 March 2009

Flintoff hopes for IPL in England:

Flintoff will play for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL All-rounder Andrew Flintoff says he would prefer the Indian Premier League to be staged in England. The IPL will be relocated to England, Wales or South Africa as it clashes with the Indian general election, prompting security fears. "It would be good to spend some more time at home so obviously I'd prefer England," said Flintoff. "But I'm sure South Africa would do a good job of staging it if it went there as well." Flintoff was bought by Chennai Super Kings and became the joint most expensive IPL player when the franchise paid $1.55m for him at auction. Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Graham Napier are the other English players involved in the tournament which will see 59 matches played from 10 April to 29 May. 606: DEBATE Ultimately it might be good for the competition to be based in England for a year Weagles A decision is expected this week as to where the IPL will be moved but Flintoff said he was disappointed he would not be able to sample the atmosphere of playing it in India. "It's disappointing news because one of the big attractions for me about the IPL was playing in India," added Flintoff. "I love playing cricket in India, particularly one-day cricket. "I've never played a Twenty20 match over there but I can imagine it woulld be an unbelievable experience because as a player you don't get a chance very often to play in front of big crowds of 40,000 to 50,000 people. "It's unfortunate but if we don't do that this year then hopefully we can do it next year." England is to host the World Twenty20 this summer and if the IPL was staged across the country, it would effectively provide a warm-up for the international tournament. But the IPL may also impinge on the Test and one-day series against the West Indies, which starts on 7 May. "I don't have any real problems with it," said England captain Andrew Strauss. "It's still going to be the same schedule so it's not like our players are going to be missing any more cricket. "I suppose, from our players' point of view, they are at home rather than being away but the counter-argument for that is that opposition players get used to English conditions prior to the World Twenty20."

Cricket IPL: South Africa new IPL frontrunners

Page last updated at 20:35 GMT, Monday, 23 March 2009

South Africa new IPL frontrunners

AB de Villiers (left), Makhaya Ntini and Graeme Smith all have IPL deals Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi wants South Africa to stage the tournament, BBC Sport understands. Modi has arrived in South Africa as he evaluates the options available to the IPL following the decision to move the event because of security fears. He plans to visit both South Africa and England in the next 24 hours to "assess venues and the logistics". England had been the early favourites to stage the tournament following the decision to switch it from India. Modi said he had no choice but to move the event because India's government could not guarantee safety and security resources with national elections happening at the same time. England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB] chief executive David Collier plans to fly to London from the West Indies to hold talks later this week. But it now appears South Africa are in pole position to stage the lucrative Twenty20 competition, which will run from 10 April to 24 May, featuring 59 matches, eight teams and players from a host of countries. "I think it's all of a sudden become the favourite," former South Africa international Shaun Pollock told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I think the advantage for us is that all our domestic cricket is finished and the stadiums are pretty vacant, and all the facilities are available to be used. "The weather's also pretty good and I think the timeframe of the viewing will fit in nicely to the Indian schedule. So there's a lot of thing going for it, but who can say?" Manoj Badale, co-owner of inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals, says South Africa is his preferred destination but is still hopeful India could host the tournament. Rajasthan Royals hope IPL stays in India "Certainly based on the conversations I've had, if it goes outside of India you'd have to suggest South Africa is the likeliest venue," he told BBC sports editor Mihir Bose. "I'm amazed the Indian government is prepared to walk away from such a large event at a time when it's election season and £100m is a lot of money for any economy. "I'm still hoping a rapprochement is achieved and we see the tournament back in India." Badale, who lives in west London, says moving the tournament to England would be a risk because of the weather and the potential lack of crowds. "April is the start of the cricket season - it's cold and it's not a prime-time cricket-watching part of the season," he said. "Children are still at school, people aren't yet on holiday and people haven't really tuned into the cricket mentality here." But he said there were advantages to both England and South Africa staging the tournament. "The big plus for South Africa and England is you've got 2.4m South Asians in the UK and you've got about 1.2m South Asians in South Africa," he said. "Those would be the communities you would try to reach out to but there's only so much you can do in 18 days." In contrast, Somerset chairman Andy Nash said England was in good shape to host the tournament. "There is an awful lot yet to be worked out but, at the end of the day, England invented the Twenty20 format," he told Radio 5 Live. "Should it be possible to bring the IPL here, I'm sure there will be enormous crowds and a huge amount of interest. "Logistically it won't be simple but if the will is there it can be overcome, I'm sure. Cricket can achieve remarkable things if people work together. "Once the ECB are aware of the requirements of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and IPL, they will move heaven and earth to try to accommodate this."

IPL in INDIA: English stars to take IPL advice

Page last updated at 18:35 GMT, Wednesday, 4 March 2009

English stars to take IPL advice:

Will England stars play in the IPL? England's contingent of Indian Premier League players will receive further security advice before deciding on their participation in the tournament. Security is an issue after gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, on Tuesday. IPL chairman Lalit Modi said: "There is no chance of postponing the IPL." And England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Hugh Morris told the BBC: "Lalit Modi has given an assurance that security will be up to scratch." Sean Morris, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association, said a period of consultation with both the Indian authorities and players would follow ahead of the Twenty20 tournament. "It's too early for us to start making decisions on are we going to go and play here, there or anywhere," Morris told BBC Radio 5 Live. "But it's very, very worrying that cricketers, who have been perceived as untouchable, are being targeted. That does concern us a lot." Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen are among seven England-based cricketers set to feature in the second year of the big-money IPL, which will involve the world's best cricketers when it begins on 10 April. The tournament coincides with India's general election, prompting fears that security resources will be stretched. I would be very nervous because that kind of attack is easier to carry out in India - and these guys can attack where they like Duncan Fletcher India's home minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, has already asked for the tournament to be postponed in the wake of Tuesday's attack in Pakistan. But Modi insisted: "We have taken into account government sensibilities, but I am sure even the home minister would not want the whole country to come to a standstill during the elections. "We did see this (clash of dates) coming. That is precisely why we had increased the number of kits and crews for this year's tournament. "We will ensure that there will be no games 24 to 48 hours prior to the polling dates across all the nine match venues in the country." International Cricket Council vice-president Sharad Pawar, whose party is a member of India's ruling coalition, believes security forces in the country will be able to provide adequate protection for both the IPL and the elections. "The situation in India is vastly different from Pakistan," he said. "Our security forces are competent, the public is aware, so I don't think we would have a situation (like the one in Lahore) here." India's financial capital Mumbai was the target of a series of calculated terrorist attacks in November 2008, when 170 people were killed, but England resumed a two-Test tour soon afterwards. "You have to go back to pre-Christmas and applaud the lengths that the BCCI and local security forces went to to ensure that tour progressed, and it did so in a very stable, comfortable environment," said Morris. "They demonstrated clearly that once they put all their might and resources behind it they did deliver an exceptional service. But the world is changing and the environment over there is very fluid, they've got elections coming up. "We will have to consider the changing environment and all of the advice over the coming weeks and then take that back to the players and help them with their decisions." It is one of those things when you never feel vulnerable until something like this happens - then you are always feeling vulnerable England captain Andrew Strauss Morris added: "What we have to do is manage the risks around the players and it's gratifying to know the IPL will be doing everything they possibly can to ensure that happens. "We're looking at the information that's coming back from the IPL and we're working in conjunction with the players' association to do that. "Clearly that information will be passed on to the players." The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations' (Fica), of which the PCA is a member, has already written to the IPL to seek assurances about security levels for its members. "An increasing number of players have expressed a desire for an independent level of comfort surrounding security arrangements," said Fica chief executive Tim May. New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram, who will play for the Chennai Super Kings, said: "I think before (Mumbai) I would have had no worries going to India but now I think there are definite questions to be asked." Duncan Fletcher has urged England's players to think carefully about playing in the IPL. "If I were one of those who signed for IPL, I'd be concerned," Fletcher told the Guardian. "The traffic is often so bad, the coach can only move slowly, which turns it into a sitting duck for terrorists." Fletcher led England on two tours of Pakistan, including their last tour in 2005, when security was markedly stepped up following bomb blasts in the country. "Less than four years ago I was part of the England tour party to Pakistan that came in for criticism from sections of the media for going overboard on security. "But if Tuesday's events in Lahore showed us anything, it's that you can never be too careful. "There were times on that tour of Pakistan when the security was at a presidential level - with the exception of Karachi, they cleared roads for us on the way to stadiums and lined them with armed guards. "India is different. There's nothing stopping a tuk-tuk pulling up alongside (a team bus) and detonating a bomb. "I would be very nervous because that kind of attack is easier to carry out in India - and these guys can attack where they like." England captain Andrew Strauss reflected on the sombre mood affecting the England camp. "It is one of those things when you never feel vulnerable until something like this happens - then you are always feeling vulnerable," he said. "It's a terrible day for the people involved, for the victims and their families and it's a terrible day for the game of cricket."

IPL Sensation- Morteza Creates

Sunday, February 8, 2009
Battle of Bollywood:

RED CHILLIES TOO HOT FOR KINGS:

Bollywood belles Priety Zinta (L) and Juhi Chawla had an intense 'tug-of-war' over Tigers paceman Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Chawla, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders finally won the battle offering 600,000 dollars for the pacer after 83 bids, which is also the longest in the IPL history.

The phrase 'when the going gets tough he gets going' perhaps fits more appropriately for Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. A cricketer with both his knees operated on and has been fighting against freakish injury ever since his Bangladesh debut in 2001 added another daring chapter in his never-say-die career on Friday. He entered the auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a minimum floor price of 50,000 dollars and made a triumphant return with a mind-boggling cheque of 600,000 dollars.

Not only that it was perhaps for the first time a Bangladeshi player hogged the spotlight in the Indian media that have been unwittingly indifferent and to some extent bitter regarding cricket across the border.

The Telegraph certainly provided the biggest coverage of Mashrafe with a banner headline: 'Ladies fight for Bangla boy', referring to the tug-of-war between Bollywood superstars Juhi Chawla and Preity Zinta.

Its reporter Samyabrata Ray Goswami wrote:

"Two Bollywood beauties fought over a baby-faced boy next door at the Indian Premier League auction today [Friday], with Juhi Chawla finally bagging Bangladesh pacer Mashrafe Mortaza for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

"Juhi and Kings XI Punjab franchisee Preity Zinta -- leading ladies in many a film opposite the Knights' co-owner Shah Rukh Khan -- went for the unassuming Mortaza as if Kal Ho Naa Ho, with 83 bids needed to settle the issue."

Telegraph also gave a vivid description of the bid for the 'Narail Express'.

"An electric half-hour had passed by then and the 25-year-old's price had shot to $600,000 from the listed base of $50,000. It was the longest bidding in IPL history, and the 12-fold improvement on the base price the steepest ever.

"The beginning, however, had as much action as a dot ball.

Knight Riders sources had hinted that Mortaza was on their wish list apart from South African batsman JP Duminy and Australian quick Shaun Tait. Yet when auctioneer Richard Medley announced the Bangladeshi's name, the ladies, in true Bollywood heroine fashion, feigned initial indifference."

The newspaper also quoted a source regarding how the event transpired.

"There was utter silence; no one raised (the electric sabre used for bidding). Then, just before the hammer went down, KKR made a bid. Till then, it had seemed like Mortaza might go unsold.

"Preity's Kings XI immediately joined the fray. The bids went up by $5,000. When KKR touched $400,000 (on the 71st bid), Medley asked Preity if she was game for $410,000. She was quiet for a while and then nodded.

"The bids rose by $10,000 till the Knights touched $500,000 on the 81st. The next bid, from Kings XI, was for $550,000.

"(Then) KKR hit the match-winning sixer: a $50,000 jump over Punjab's last offer.

“The whole thing was very dramatic -- there was pin-drop silence in the room and Medley made it even more frenzied by quickening the pace of bidding. It was like speed chess."

The Navhind times in Goa termed bidding for Mortaza like a 'war' between Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings.

"The bidding for Mortaza intensified and literally it seemed as if Ness Wadia's Kings XI Punjab and Juhi Chawla's Kolkata Knight Riders, were at wars when they raised the mark to astronomical sums."

The Herald in Goa went a step further managing a quote form Kings XI stakeholder Preity Zinta.

"Mortaza is a great player, an all-rounder and we wanted him. But you win some, you lose some," the Bollywood star was quoted by the newspaper.

The Indian Express explained how important Mashrafe was for Knight Riders with a quote from its coach Australian John Buchanan.

"Shah Rukh was on the phone from Mumbai and his words were clear, 'Don't let Preity buy him',” the paper said quoting Buchanan. Ananda Vasu of Hindustan Times credited the auction for Mashrafe's fortune.

"For Mashrafe Mortaza, with all due respect to him, would never command a $ 600,000-price tag if it wasn't for these "auction forces."

He also wrote in his article: "If last year's auction was like prima donnas buying anything and everything they fancied at a designer store in a mega mall, this year's affair was more like prudent housewives looking for a bargain at the local market."

Ayaz Memon, India's leading columnist, in an interview with CNBC-TV18 explained why Mashrafe was so important for Knight Riders.

"If you ask me, Mashrafe Mortaza is a better player than Ashraful. Ashraful promised a lot, he is a youngster still, he is a fine strokemaker so he might make his mark in the IPL but Mashrafe Mortaza is a big hitter of the ball, a big-hearted fast bowler and look he is replacing Shoaib Akhtar who did really virtually nothing in the previous season.

"So I think Shah Rukh Khan has decided to trade one fast bowler for somebody who can at least bat a bit and will play all the matches."