World Cup Cricket matches in Mumbai Multiplex

Some Multiplex and cinema theatre owners of Mumbai want to display world cup cricket matches. They have started to talk with the ESPN Star Sports (ESS) to obtain rights to show matches. ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is the official telecast rights holder of the World Cup Cricket. ESS has not given any final words to any party and still negotiating with several parties.

Indian Television Wrote:

Said Cinemax CEO Sunil Punjabi, "We have had talks with the rights holder for live screening for the World Cup. There are issues like commercial rights and delivery that are to be sorted out. We are expecting that by the first week of February, this will be sorted out."

Last year many Multiplex displayed IPL matches live. PVR, a leading Multiplex, screened 48 IPL matches last year.

Champions League and ESPN's Broadcast Rights

The Champion League’s inaugural Twenty20 club-cricket tournament was scheduled from 3 December 2008 but is was postponed for the terrorist attack in Mumbai. It is hoping to make preparations on the earlier next year but I am not sure about it because of ICC’s tight schedule. Although, it a club to club game where the players will take part on behalf of the different club of England, Australia, Pakistan and India but form India IPL T20 team Chennai Super Kings will take part.  

Aiming to make popular the club cricket, BCCI scheduled to organize The Champion League’s inaugural Twenty20 club-cricket tournament and ESPN Star Sports secured the telecast right for next 10 years. But Mumbai attack stopped all plans.  

Business Standard reported on 7 December 2008 “At least, Rs 280 crore of ad-revenue was expected from the first Champions League tournament for which ESPN Star Sports paid $975 million as the telecast rights fee for the next 10 years. It was expecting to recover more than half of Rs 430 crore (Rs 4,300 crore for 10 years) from the inaugural tournament from advertising revenue, ticket sales, among other options.” 

In the inaugural Champion League’s inaugural Twenty20 club-cricket tournament eight teams will take parts and the match will be held in selected three venues. Chennai Super Kings is one of he popular and strong club of the Indian Premier League and champions of the inaugural IPLT20 Rajasthan Royals and the other hand Middlesex very popular in English Premier League.  Sialkot squad is form Pakistan Victoria and W. Australia are from Australian. 

BB McCullum’s 158runs and Kolkata Knight Riders

The first match of DFL IPL tewnty20 between KKR and RCB was taken place in Bangalore. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to field first with a great confidence. But at the end of 20 over the total confidence on blower has broken.

The opening ceremony was a spectacular affair, but was followed was even more breathtaking, as Brendon McCullum stamped his class in the IPL opener. In what was a brutal one-man assault on the Bangalore Royal Challengers, McCullum blasted an unbeaten 158 from a mere 73 deliveries, the highest score in a Twenty20 match, to propel Kolkata Knight Riders to an imposing 222 for 3.

Although the pitch was fully bowling supported but the Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen dominate the RCB’s blowers and looks them helpless to them. The atmosphere of the stadium was full of joy. The franchise Shah Rukh Khan added extra joyfulness to the audiences who was present in the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

McCullum allowed himself a breather after that, going 17 deliveries without a boundary, before the floodgates opened again. Sunil Joshi was slog-swept twice - with the bottom hand coming off the bat once - for sixes, before he turned his attention to Cameron White and Jacques Kallis. Line, length, and pace mattered not a jot, as balls disappeared over the ground with amazing frequency When Noffke returned for another spell, McCullum manufactured the stroke of the evening, going down on one knee and scooping the ball over fine leg for six.

The New Zealand Batsman BB McCullum’s 158 runs by 73 balls. To achieve this score BB McCullum hit 10 fours and 13 sixes. Kolkata Knight Riders scored 222runs by 3 wickets.

Royal Challengers Bangalore the stable team in IPL

Royal Challengers Bangalore is going to lead by the former Indian captain Rahul Dravid. The IPL tournament is going to inaugurate with the match between Royal Challenger Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. So which team is stronger between the two teams? Now I am giving some important example of coach, batsmen, bowlers and all-rounder of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team.

Dr. Vijay Mallya and UB group owned team RCB is coached by the former Indian Bowlers Venkatesh Prasad and the CEO is the cricket intellectual Charu Sharma. In the IPL tournament the team is going to represent the city of Bangalore. The team owner DR. Vijay Mallya has purchased the team for US$111.6 million. It is the second highest bid.

The batting line-up looks conventional with the likes of Wasim Jaffer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jacques Kallis who are seasoned athletes but may not be the most proficient in the Twenty20 format. However, their experience though could give them an edge in crunch situations in the tournament. In contrast, the bowling lineup is more suited to the Twenty20 format. The likes of Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Nathan Bracken, Abdur Razzak and Dale Steyn make for a potent bowling attack. A lethal combination of bouncers, in-swingers, yorkers and leg breaks makes Bangalore Royal Challengers one of the best bowling sides in the league.

There are some icon players in the team. Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nathan Bracken, Cameron White, Mark Boucher and Dale Steyn. I think this sequence is proving that how strong the RCB is in the opening IPL tournament!

Royal Challengers Bangalore will be taken part in the robin round league. The total tournament has divided in two parts one is robin round and other is knock-out.

Mumbai Indians the top Bided and most Popular Team in IPL

Mumbai Indians is one of the popular teams in the inaugural IPL Twenty20 tournament. There are many stars cricket in this team such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Shaun Pollock etc. Some of the players of the national team of India also there who performed well in the inaugural Twenty20 world cup champion tournament in South Africa.

Robin Uthappa, 22 is one of them whose presentation impressed all the Indian fans, especially some of his innovative shoots. During the interval the commentator and cricket intelligent asked him about this shoot. He answered freely and told he practiced it in the home ground.

Indian Star Icon Sachin Tendulkar will lead the Mumbai Indians team. Although he is the best players in the world in both Test and ODI but he has not show any well performance in the Twenty20 format. Any way it is the time to show him. Some of the media reports told that he not fit for the tournament.

Now, it is a question who will lead the team Mumbai Indians, Robin Uthappa or Harbhajan Singh during the absent of the Sachin Tendulkar.

Indian peoples are always crazy in two things Crcket and Bollywood. In the IPL there are many Bollywood stars who are playing important role to make IPL popular. Hrithk Roshan is one of them who are the brand ambassador of Mumbai Indians team.

Mumbai Indians is the top bided team of IPL of $111.9 million. Mukesh Ambani and Reliance Industries Limited have purchased the team.

The first match of IPL on 18 April 2008

The most awaited IPL tournament is going to launch after a few hours. The inaugural ceremony will be taken place on 18 April. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore is fully prepared to celebrate the inaugural tournament between Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders. The match will run from 18 April to 1 June. The final will be on June 1 in Mumbai.

At 20:00 (IST) the two former captains will come to fight in the floodlight of Bangalore. Sourav Ganguly the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders and Rahul Dravid the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore will meet each other in the home ground of Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The former India captains will walk out for the toss in a stadium plunged in darkness. Spotlights will trail them as they make their way to the middle, then finally the floodlights will come on as the home team's franchise, the Royal Challengers, take on the Kolkata Knight Riders.

I have got a nice similarity between the two teams that is both the teams have occupied the second positions form the ascending and descending way. That means the Royal Challengers Bangalore is the second highest bided team and the Kolkata Knight is second lowest bided team.

Kolkata Knight Rides Franchise Shah Rukh Khan has offered 1000 tickets for the fans to join the inaugural ceremony in Bangalore. Now it a question that which team will own the first match bangle or Bangalore? There are many storng and experienced players in the both team such as Rickey Ponting, Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, David Hussey , Shoaib Akhtar on the other team Mark Boucher, Nathan Bracken, Dale Steyn are the strong hands.

The Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL

Kolkata Knight Riders is a team of Indian Premier League among the eight teams. Although Kolkata Knight Riders owners Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla Mehta and Jai Mehta acquired second lower prize by bid but they have spend more money to hire high quality batsmen and bowlers. It is an accurate decision of Shah Rukh Khan and his associate franchise.

Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of the Indian cricket team is the icon player and will lead the Kolkata franchise. Also in the team is allrounder Chris Gayle and wicket keeper batsman Brendon McCullum. The most successful captain in world cricket Ricky Ponting follows suit with a bowling attack including Shoaib Akhtar, Ishant Sharma, Umar Gul. Others include Ajit Agarkar, Murali Karthik and David Hussey.

Shahrukh, Juhi and Mehta got the franchise of the Kolkata Knight Riders for $75.09 million. It is the second lowest bid. But they did not show any hesitate to spend more money to appoint some best quality players. Here is the list of Kolkata Knight Riders squad below.

David Hussey, Ricky Ponting, Salman Butt, Akash Chopra, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohan Banerjee, Yashpal Singh, Debabrata Das, Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Tatenda Taibu, Wriddhiman Saha, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Ajit Agarkar, Mohammad Hafeez, Iqbal Abdulla, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Ishant Sharma, Shoaib Akhtar, Murali Kartik, Umar Gul, Siddarth Kaul, Ranadeb Bose and Sourashish Lahiri.

Still now I do not get any list about the players who will play the inaugural match against Bangalore Royal Challengers in Bangalore on 18 April.

Important Difference between IPL and ICL

If you find on internet you will get a lot of articles on IPL and ICL and the cause of setup behind it. Opinion vary person to person. Here I mentioned some difference between ICL and IPL.

Actual meaning	IPL= Indian Premier League	ICL= Indian Cricket League
Why does it setup	To Defeat ICL	To help the help those players who are in economical problem.
Who are benefited	BCCI	The cricket players who are in rest and low class cricketers
Who are the franchise of IPL Teams	Mukesh Ambani and Reliance Industries Limited, Dr. Vijay Mallya and UB group, Deccan Chronicle, India Cements and N Srinivasan, GMR Holdings, Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Karan Paul (Apeejay Surendera Group) and Mohit Burman (Dabur), Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla Mehta and Jai Mehta, Emerging Media: (Manoj Badale, Lachlan Murdoch, Suresh Chellaram). So it is using bollywood start s and top class businessmen to get popularity.	Behind ICL no franchise there but Executive Board Members The Talent Scouts The Coaches The Mentors The Players
Telecast right owner	Sony Entertainment Television	Zee Sports, Ten Sports

Intervention of IPL on Journalism

To get popularity, media always plays an important role. I astonished to read the news that IPL authority has imposed rules on reporting about the IPL during the match time form the play ground. Even on the photographer too.

Various media organizations such as the Editors' Guild of India (EGI) the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) and the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) had objected to the terms of the IPL following which the IPL had assured the media organizations that its terms would be revised to address their concerns.

Under its revised terms and conditions for media accreditation made available on April 9, 2008, the IPL has reportedly prohibited pictures taken by newspapers or news agencies to be used online (on the internet) or syndicated.

This is not a very good sign and I think it is an invisible handing on journalism. Although IPL take over some restriction form Photo journalism but it is not sufficient enough.

Kingfisher is the Official Airline of the DLF IPL

Most expected Indian Premier League will be held on 18 April 2008. So it is almost knocking at the door. BCCI inaugurates, ICC backed IPL has almost maintain all their associates and the others. It already distributed its franchise by bid. The license holders are some of India leading business giants. The telecast right went on Sony Entertainment Television (SET). Now, news is in media that Kingfisher Airlines becomes Official Airline of the DLF Indian Premier League.

Businessindia reported

Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner, DLF Indian Premier League said, "I am very pleased to have the country’s premier 5 star airline Kingfisher Airlines join us as our Official Airline Partner. I am certain that the cricketers and officials alike will enjoy the 5 star hospitality of the airline while flying the good times across the country getting from one match to another. Their decision to extend the association beyond being umpire partners further 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 cricketing calendar.”

Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman & CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the DLF Indian Premier League as the official airline partner. Our multi-year agreement with the DLF Indian Premier League is further testimony of our commitment to Indian sports. I am certain that all the players and officials of the DLF Indian Premier League will undoubtedly enjoy our hospitality and fly the good times during the forty-four days of intense competition. The DLF Indian Premier League is a highly innovative concept and the Twenty20 format will undoubtedly take cricket’s popularity to a new high. I welcome all DLF IPL guests to sit back, relax and enjoy the Kingfisher experience.”

Although it was assumed that IPL authority was in problem to maintain all the players but may be they have able to solve the problem. So there is no problem to inaugurate Twenty20 formatted IPL tournament. BCCI supported IPL will be held according to its declared time schedule and venues.

BCCI offers amazing prize money of Rs. 12cr

BCCI inaugurated and ICC backed IPL is going to take place on 18th April 2008. Basically, BCCI has installed IPL to defeat ICL. Now, they have announced a huge amount of prize money. So it is really amazing. It seems that BCCI is trying to impress the players and the owners by declaring these rewards. Anyway, it is totally personal matter of BCCI.

WebIndia reported: Announcing the prize, Chairman and League Commissioner Lalit Modi said in a release that the runner up will be richer by Rs 2.4 crore while the two losing semi-finalists will each earn Rs 1.2 crore. The total prize money will be further divided amongst other teams, with the team finishing fifth collecting Rs 80 lakh, while the sixth finisher will earn Rs 70 lakh. The team finishing seventh on the league table will get Rs 50 lakh while the eighth finisher will earn Rs 40 lakh.

After declaring the prize money BCCI is feeling proud and telling that it is the highest prize money in the domestic cricket among the countries in the world. I think here nothing to say proudly because BCCI has taken a huge amount of money from the franchises.

What is the destination of Shoaib Akter? IPL or ICL

Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar has been banned for five years. He was accused of breaking the cricket code. He was first banned at the time of the inaugural Twenty20 Championship for behave badly with his team mate. Recently, Pakistan Cricket Board has banned him again. Banning from the Pakistan cricket team, he has become uncertain at IPL. He was signed up with the team Kolkata Knight Riders.

Meanwhile, Shahrukh Khan is doing all he can to bring Shoaib Akhtar back to his team. He knew that he can hire another players but he want back him. He said that he would speak to BCCI and IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi on the matter and try to lift the ban. He is of the opinion that Shoaib should be allowed to play in the domestic cricket though he is banned from international cricket.

Shahrukh Khan is the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders. He was signed a contract with Shoaib Akhtar to play IPL on behalf Kolkata Knight Riders. As Pakistan Cricket Board has (PCB) for indiscipline, that is why IPL is going to the same rule. Now what is the decision of Shoaib Akhtar? Will he join in ICL or his career will stop here?

Preity Zinta hit during the Mohali team Launch

On Monday, Preity Zinta accidently hit by an elbow during the IPL launch ceremony. Twenty20 hard hitter batsman Yuvraj Singh is the leader of the team. Actress Zinta is the co-owner of the Mohali Team. You all know the Indian Premier League will be taken place on 18 April. It is misty to her how did she hit?

NDTV reported "I don't know how it happened," Preity said. "But in the melee at the launch (Monday), an elbow came and hit me straight in the eye. I had to go through the event with a black eye wearing dark glasses." After the event, the actress spent the evening nursing her eye with ice packs. "It will swell a bit. I guess it's bound to happen when one is in such situations," she said.

The close viewer explained that somebody might be through something at Priety Zinta. One of her bodyguard tried to catch the thrown elements. At that time his elbow hit to Zinta’s eye.

Indian Premier League (IPL) match Schedule

ICC backed and BCCI established IPL will be started from 18 April 2008. It is the first and inaugural twenty20 tournament. Still now, IPL has to face trouble to collect the players. It is clear that the matches will be exciting because it has been set up to defeat ICL and ICC indirectly helping it. So, match time schedule (Fixture) is important to all. This time schedule I mention according to the local time and GMT.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Match Schedule

Fri 18

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kolkata Knight Riders

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Sat 19

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Sat 19

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals

Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Sun 20

09:30 GMT Mumbai Indians v Bangalore Royal Challengers

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Sun 20

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Kolkata Knight Riders v Deccan Chargers

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Mon 21

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Tue 22

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Deccan Chargers v Delhi Daredevils

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Wed 23

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Thu 24

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Deccan Chargers v Rajasthan Royals

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Fri 25

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Sat 26

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Bangalore Royal Challengers v Rajasthan Royals

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Sat 26

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Sun 27

09:30 GMT Mumbai Indians v Deccan Chargers

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Sun 27

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Mon 28

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super Kings

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Tue 29

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Wed 30

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Delhi Daredevils v Bangalore Royal Challengers

Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

May 2008

Thu 1

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Deccan Chargers v Kings XI Punjab

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Thu 1

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Fri 2

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Sat 3

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Deccan Chargers v Bangalore Royal Challengers

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Sat 3

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Sun 4

09:30 GMT Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Sun 4

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Mon 5

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Tue 6

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Wed 7

13:30 GMT Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Thu 8

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings

Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Thu 8

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Kolkata Knight Riders v Bangalore Royal Challengers

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Fri 9

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Rajasthan Royals v Deccan Chargers

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Sat 10

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Bangalore Royal Challengers v Mumbai Indians

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Sat 10

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Sun 11

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Sun 11

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Mon 12

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Kings XI Punjab v Bangalore Royal Challengers

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Tue 13

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Wed 14

09:30 GMT Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Wed 14

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Thu 15

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Delhi Daredevils v Deccan Chargers

Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Fri 16

13:30 GMT Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Sat 17

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab

Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Sat 17

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Rajasthan Royals v Bangalore Royal Challengers

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Sun 18

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Sun 18

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Mon 19

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Bangalore Royal Challengers v Delhi Daredevils

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Tue 20

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Wed 21

09:30 GMT Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Wed 21

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Chennai Super Kings v Bangalore Royal Challengers

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Thu 22

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders

Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Fri 23

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Kings XI Punjab v Deccan Chargers

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Sat 24

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians

Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Sat 24

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Sun 25

15:00 local, 09:30 GMT Bangalore Royal Challengers v Deccan Chargers

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Sun 25

20:00 local, 14:30 GMT Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Mon 26

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Tue 27

19:00 local, 13:30 GMT Deccan Chargers v Chennai Super Kings

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Fri 30 1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC

Venue TBC, Mumbai

Sat 31 2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC

Venue TBC, Mumbai

June 2008

Sun 1 Final - TBC v TBC

Venue TBC, Mumbai

IPL official website vs IPL Tournament

Indian Premier League (IPL) has been created by BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and ICC also has leaded behind it. It is a Twenty20 Cricket format championship. It was established just rivalry of ICL. I think you will not find any difference with the ICL and you all know that BCCI was totally against on ICL and some officials told that the ICL format will destroy the traditional Cricket. Do you think so? It may be wrong from my view. Actually, it is right that there was no benefit of BCCI to setup ICL and that is why BCCI created Indian Premier League (IPL).

My article is about Indian Premier League (IPL) official website. Dear Cricket fans, did you visit Indian Premier League (IPL) official website? The report I have written on 7 March 2008. I did not find any important (even less important) information on that website. Most of the pages are not active at all. Although you could get a little bit information but it is out of work.

In the first page you will not able to get any information except this (see the picture below). Here you can see the date and links indicating click here for more information. Among three does not work. May be it updated last on 20 February. It’s mean that there was no essential news in Indian Premier League (IPL) office.

If you visit the Wikipedia you only get the information about the money. You will see the list of

1 Fixtures

2 Television Rights

3 Title Sponsorship Rights

4 Franchises

5 Administration

6 Player signings

7 See Also

8 External links

9 References

But here no information about fixture, if you want then you have to visit another page. It is showing that is a big match of money, money and money.

Which one is the best, IPL or ICL

The second ICL tournament will be held on 10 March 2008. So, what is important thing in ICL than IPL in the second tournament? In the inaugural ceremony IPL is facing so many problems to recruit the players. It seems that this ICL will be more acceptable that the inaugural ceremony. I think you will ask me why?

The Indian Cricket League (ICL) is the only tournament of its kind that can keep alive the "great India-Pakistan rivalry". That's the view of the ICL's business head, Himanshu Mody, who was explaining its positioning vis-à-vis the ICC-backed Indian Premier League (IPL), which has a much higher profile and is operating on a larger scale.

The launch of the Lahore Badshahs team, which will participate in the tournament that begins on Sunday, will "add a whole new dimension to the league," Mody told Cricinfo. The side features 15 Pakistanis, including Inzamam-ul Haq, Mohammad Sami and Saqlain Mushtaq, and is coached by the former wicketkeeper, Moin Khan.

So it is clear that ICL is getting a team named Lahore Badshahs where all the members are form Pakistan. And, if any team comes on with all Indian players then it will be similar attraction like India vs Pakistan match.

Michael Clarke will not join IPL

Michael Clarke, the young and responsible batsman in the Australia team. He also captained Australia’s Twenty20 cricket team. He had a commitment to join IPL in India. But, in case of his father illness, he has decided not to attend in the inaugural 44-days IPL Tewnty20 tournament that will be started form 18 April. Although Michael Clarke has skipped to join IPL but the associates Symonds , retiring wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, captain Ricky Ponting, retired Glenn McGrath, Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden and some others will be playing in the IPL either this year or from the next edition. Clarke’s father, Les, has been suffering for cancer one year. That is why he has decided to spend time with his family. I have taken the quote from Sify Sports.

"When IPL was first mentioned, dad and I talked about it. I told him what it was - the money they were offering and things like that," Clarke was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.

"But Lara (his girlfriend), mum (Debbie), dad, my sister (Leanne) and I had dinner on Monday night and I told them then that I wasn't going to go. They asked why, but they were very supportive of my decision. Dad just said that money's not a worry and at this stage of my career it's worth enjoying time at home."

Michael Clarke has no allegation not to join IPL but he is happy to spend more time with his family. He thinks that as he loves cricket and the opportunity will come again. Clarke’s girlfriend Lara, whose father has cancer. They all will go to fishing during the free time.

Shane Bond has made an agreement with ICL

According to the senior officials of ICL, New Zealand pacer Shane Bond has signed up in a contact papers for three years. Ashish Kaul, the executive vice-president of the Essel Group, the company behind the ICL, confirmed the rumours that the league had secured New Zealand's strike bowler. "Shane Bond has signed up," Kaul told Reuters. "It's a three-year contract that he has with the Indian Cricket League."

Shane Bond makes his deal with ICL for US$800,000 for a season who was kept out from the ongoing series between Bangladesh-New Zealand for his abdominal injury. Although, NZC requested Bond to join IPL, which is backed by BCCI. Unfortunately the offer is lower that ICL, is US$250,000 per season.

All the countries warn their crickets not to join IPL that is non-officially-sanctioned. After joint of Shane Bond NZC again warn seriously that if any of the cricketers sing up with ICL, they will be ban from all kinds of international match both home and abroad.

The deal would likely mean the end of Bond's Test and ODI career, as NZC has already told its selectors to consider other players ahead of any who join the ICL. NZC has also made an agreement with the other Test nations that any players who take part in the non-officially-sanctioned ICL should not be selected for international duties.

It is an interesting matter that BCCI has declared that ICL is totally opposite of international cricket. My question is here that if it is against them so why they are going to introduce same formatted cricket match?