Sreesanth alleges Harbhajan hit him April 26, 2008
The Indian Premier League faced its first on-field controversy with allegations that Harbhajan Singh hit Sreesanth, his India team-mate and IPL rival, after Friday’s match between the Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians in Mohali. While Yuvraj Singh, Sreesanth’s captain, said Harbhajan had apologised after the incident, it remains to be seen how the IPL will handle it as a disciplinary issue.
Sreesanth, who took two wickets for Punjab, was spotted in tears after the match – which his side won – and later confirmed the incident to Cricinfo. He declined, however, to comment on it.
Sources close to him said that after the match a smiling Sreesanth walked up to Harbhajan – the captain of the losing Mumbai Indians – and said “Hard Luck”. “That was enough for Harbhajan to lose his cool and hit Sreesanth under the eye,” said sources close to the fast bowler.
Harbhajan refused to answer questions on the incident at the post-match press conference. “Can we have questions on just cricket,” he said in response to questions relating to the incident. His opposing captain, however, was clear in his view. “This is really an ugly incident,” Yuvraj said, “this is totally unacceptable.” He added, though, that Harbhajan had visited the dressing-room after the match and apologised to Sreesanth.
“At the end of the day, players shake hands. But today saw more that from Harbhajan and Sreesanth,” said Tom Moody, the Punjab coach. “The positive thing is that Harbhajan had a long chat with Sreesanth. But I am not sure what ramifications this incident will have.” Cricinfo has learnt that Sreesanth complained about the incident to officials of the Mohali franchise, including co-owners Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia.
However, IS Bindra, the president of the Punjab Cricket Association, denied an official complaint has been lodged. “Some media people have asked me about this incident. No official complaint has reached me yet. I believe what happens on the field should be sorted out by the players on the field itself,” Bindra told Cricinfo.
On-field relations between Harbhajan and Sreesanth appeared strained during the India-South Africa Test series as well. Sreesanth had dropped Hashim Amla off Harbhajan during the Chennai Test to which Harbhajan reacted with displeasure after which he was seen motioning towards Sreesanth after making a diving save at point.
This is the second time in the last six months that Harbhajan has been at the centre of controversy. Earlier this year the Australians accused him of racially abusing Andrew Symonds during the Test series Down Under.
IPL-Weekend Round Up. April 20, 2008
Friday 18th April
IPL gets off to a spectacular start, thanks to Dr. Vijay Malliya, who pulled all the strings together to make sure the spectators around the world where mesmoraised by the opening ceremony. The Opening ceremony was full of colour, lights and entertainment. The show was kicked off by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy who sang a few upbeat numbers to get the crowd moving. It was followed by a performance from stilt dancers who did as good a job as the Aerial acrobats. An impressive light show marked the end of the entertainment and gave way to a few speeches.
Match 1-Kolkata v. Bangalore
Kolkata-222/3 (20 overs)
Bangalore-82 all out (15.1 overs)
McCullum carried on the entertainment, it took him seven balls to get off the mark but from there on he never looked back. He managed a massive 158 of just 73 balls. Kolkata managed 222 of there 20 overs. Bangalore was never really in the game after they lost there skipper Rahul Dravid of the first ball of Ishant Sharma’s spell. Although the true hero with the ball was Ajit Agarkar who managed to take 3 for just 25 runs of his four overs. Bangalore only managed 82 and where cleaned up in 15.1 overs.
It would be fair to say that cricket was over shadowed by the quality of entertainment on Day 1.
Hero of the Day- BB McCullum
Day 2: Saturday 19th April:
Match 2-Punjab V. Chennai.
Punjab- 240/5
Chennai- 207-4
Hussey managed an impressive 116 of 54 balls hitting 10 of those balls out of the ground for maximum. Chennai finished with 240/5 out of there twenty overs. He paced his innings to perfection came in early after the fall of Partvic Patel in the 3rd over. In the process he did not take too many risks. Always looked in control never allowed any bowler to get on top of him. Pathen was pick of the bowlers although he did give away he did give away 42 but picked up 2 important wickets. Badrinath joined the party in the last over he managed an impressive 31 of just 14 ball smashing 2 sixes. Earlier on Raina managed an impressive 32 of just 13 balls. Matthew Hayden was the other major contributor he managed 26 of 17 balls. Fielding was not all that great either King’s 11 dropped two important catches in the process.
Yuvraj’s team got of to an impressive start as the openers managed to put on an impressive 26 for the first wicket. JR Hopes was on fire before to got chaught in the deep for 71 by Joginder Sharma of Amarnath.Yuvraj Singh carried on the movement, he eased his way to 23 off 13 balls. Unfortunately Sangakkara and Katich weren’t able to keep up with the pace. Sangakkara contributed 54 to the total of 207 and the Kings 11 feal 34 runs short.
Match 3-Rajasthan Royals v. Delhi Daredevils
Rajasthan-129/8
Delhi- 132/1( 15.1 overs)
The Daredevils turned in an impressive all around bowling performance to restrict the Royals to a mere 129 of there 20 overs. Maharoof put on an impressive bowling performance and finished with 2 for 11 of his 4 overs. Sehwag and Co. made light work of the chase and reached the target within 16 overs.Gambhir and Dhawan both managed a fifty each.
Hero of the Day- MF Maharoof
Day 3- Sunday 20th of April.
Deccan Chargers v. Kolkata Knight Riders
The first home match for Kolkata was a rather low scoring affair thanks to a crumbling pitch. Deccan Chargers won the toss and choose to bat first. The pitch started breaking up from the second over. It was turning unexpectedly, the bounce was uneven and it was highly unpredictable. Despite all this Symonds and Gilchrist managed to hit a few balls out of the ground to help lift the total to 110. Pundits had a fealing that the Deccans where 10-15 runs short and guess what they where right. Despite a really tight spell from Vaas who managed to get 2 wickets in 3 overs for a mere 9 runs, Knight Riders got home in the 19th over. If it wasn’t for an impressive and patient 38 from David Hussey, Kolkata where staring down the barrel. Murali Kartik was the pick of the bowlers for the Knight Riders as he managed to grab 3 wickets for 17 runs.
Match 5-Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers.
After an embarrassing defeat at home it was time for Bangalore challengers to restore there pride. Rahul Dravid and the lads traveled to Mumbai where they came up against a team which was missing there lead. Sachin was declared unfit and therefore had to be rested for the Mumbais Inaugural encounter. Mumbai team being captain by Harbhajan singh won the toss and decided to bat first. They managed an impressive 165/6 of the alloted twenty overs. Pollock, Jayasuria and Nayar each scored 20 odd where as RV Uthappa topped the list with an impressive 48. The pick of the bowlers was Zaheer Khan who finished with impressive figures of 2/17 of his four overs. The Challengers thanks to a heroic performance by Mark Boucher who managed 39 of 19 balls reached the target with two balls to spare. Other notable contribution came from the skipper himself who managed to keep things together at the top of the innings where he managed 32 at nearly run a ball.Pollock was the most economical ball but the failure to get any wickets marked the difference.
Hussey goes Bannan’s April 19, 2008
Hussey managed an impressive 116 of 54 balls hitting 10 of those balls out of the ground for maximum. Chennai finished with 240/5 out of there twenty overs. He paced his innings to perfection came in early after the fall of Partvic Patel in the 3rd over. In the process he did not take too many risks. Always looked in control never allowed any bowler to get on top of him. Pathen was pick of the bowlers although he did give away he did give away 42 but picked up 2 important wickets. Badrinath joined the party in the last over he managed an impressive 31 of just 14 ball smashing 2 sixes. Earlier on Raina managed an impressive 32 of just 13 balls. Matthew Hayden was the other major contributor he managed 26 of 17 balls. Fielding was not all that great either King’s 11 dropped two important cathces in the process.
Yuvraj’s team will have to bat out of there skin if they are to put up a decent chase.
To watch the match live click here
Chennai Super Kings V. Kings XI Punjab(watch it here free) Follow the thread for updates April 19, 2008
Hussey managed an impressive 116 of 54 balls hitting 10 of those balls out of the ground for maximum. Chennai finished with 240/5 out of there twenty overs. He paced his innings to perfection came in early after the fall of Partvic Patel in the 3rd over. In the process he did not take too many risks. Always looked in control never allowed any bowler to get on top of him. Pathen was pick of the bowlers although he did give away he did give away 42 but picked up 2 important wickets. Badrinath joined the party in the last over he managed an impressive 31 of just 14 ball smashing 2 sixes. Earlier on Raina managed an impressive 32 of just 13 balls. Matthew Hayden was the other major contributor he managed 26 of 17 balls. Fielding was not all that great either King’s 11 dropped two important cathces in the process.
Yuvraj’s team will have to bat out of there skin if they are to put up a decent chase.
Hussey taking charge-161/4
Both Hussey and Raina have decided to take the attack to the spinners. Managed an impressive 19 of the first over from Chawla. Goel was shown no mercy either and gave away 20 runs in his second over. Raina was chaught out at the boundry by Pathan of the bowling of WA Mota. Raina made 32 of a mere 13 balls. Jacob Oram seems to be taking it slow who has managed 7 after being dropped by sreesanth at run a ball. Whereas Hussey has moved onto 74 and has managed to hit 5 balls out of the ground hes on a roll. If they carry on at this rate 200 is on the cards.
Balance prevails-88/3 after 10:
Yuvraj made changes at both end and Hayden decided to attack his Queensland team mate James Hope. Smashed him for a 4 and a 6 is his first over. Although Hayden did not manage get the better off Pathan, as Pathan had him clean bowled for 26. Hopes made a good come back as he managed to trap the most expensive player in front of the wicket for 1 of the first ball of his second over. Hussey seems to be looking to bat through where as Raina has taken on the role of the aggressor. Spin has been introduced in the form off K Goel who managed to keep things realitvily quite only giving away 5 runs in his first over. Hussey has moved onto 30 and Raina not out at 13.
Match Hangs in Balance- Chennai 42/1( P.Patel 15 c Sangakara B. Lee)
Parthiv Patel and Matthew Hayden are off too a blazing start. Patel set the tune with three boundries of the first three balls off Sreesanth. On the other hand Lee kept things relative tight, hardly giving away any room to the two batsmen. In the third over he bowled Hayden off a free hit and had Patel chaught behind. Hussey after a quite start has taken the attack to Lee, he smashed Lee for too very convincing boundries and is not out at 14. Lee and Co. is making it hard for Hayden to find his element all who has managed 11 at run a ball. Quality of fielding has been very good so far.All and all the match hangs in balance. Tune in again in 20 mins for the next update.
Dhoni has won the toss and elected to bat first. Punjab has left out Mahela from the playing eleven. The pitch seems to have been nicely rolled in any grass that there was has been shaven off. The start is only 10 mins away . Tune in again for regular updates.
Links are here:
This thread would be updated after every 5 overs
Preview:
There’s a buzz around this game given that six of India’s ICC World Twenty20-winning squad, and some of the most expensive acquisitions, will be pitted together. No other match-up includes so many such players and that’s obviously a big draw. Chennai are lead by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who after the Twenty20 victory was snapped up for a whopping US$1.5 million. On the other side is Yuvraj Singh, he of the six consecutive sixes in the World Twenty20, leading a team of this magnitude for the first time. Punjab are a very young and promising team, with only three players over 30, whereas Chennai’s strengths lie in their batting. How each cope with the other’s strengths, and smooth over their own weaknesses – Chennai have solid batsmen but are thin in the bowling stakes, while Punjab lack a potent spinner – will determine the winner of this contest.
Yuvraj has already spoken of the mini-battle that the contest is likely to throw up between him and Dhoni. “It’s a good way to build the hype (around the competition) by pitching it as a Yuvraj versus Dhoni contest,” Yuvraj said. “Maybe, I will share a joke with him after the game.” Dhoni, however, will play in the side as a specialist batsman with Parthiv Patel set to keep wicket.
Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee have terrorized opposing teams for a few years now but now it’s going to be one versus the other. Hayden’s domination with the bat has extended into the Twenty20 format and it’s unlikely he will change his approach against Lee, who is at the top of his game. Lee will know Hayden’s penchant for walking down the track, so expect a few tricks.
Another contest with the makings of a classic is Kumar Sangakkara versus Muttiah Muralitharan. Sangakkara has kept admirably to Murali all over the world, and has no doubt faced up to him plenty of times in the nets; but in front of a huge crowd, with so much at stake? Keep your eyes on Sanga v Murali.
This thread would be updated after every 5 overs
Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kolkata Knight Riders IPL ( watch it here for free) April 18, 2008
Match facts
Friday, April 18, 2008 Start time 20:00 local time (14:30 GMT)
The Big Picture
After months of hype, excitement, controversy and speculation the high-profile Indian Premier League kicks off in Bangalore with the Royal Challengers hosting the Kolkata Knight Riders. “Eight teams, without any players, only warriors” is the maxim for the inaugural tournament and there’s plenty riding on it. Fans from all around the world will zoom in to see players who have squared off on the international level come together to try and trump others, and many, not least the organisers who have gone to town promoting the event, will follow with bated breath. Not since Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket has an event so divided and stirred up the fraternity. It might be too much for a traditionalist but against the backdrop of a cricket-crazy host country, and with plenty of huge names involved, there’s little going against the lucrative tournament.
Watch out for …
After the Chinnaswamy Stadium is plunged in darkness, a spotlight will focus on the rival captains, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. The duo has been solid for India for over well over a decade and would’ve played against each other on the domestic front but this is something completely new.
Dravid and Jacques Kallis are champions for their respective countries, one recently going past 10,000 Test runs and the other soon to get there, but they’ve done little of note in Twenty20 cricket. Kallis was unceremoniously axed from the ICC World Twenty20 at home and has only played seven matches; Dravid has played only two domestic matches. Pitted together in the same team, its going to be interesting to see how they adapt.
Just 21 years and six first-class games old, young Debabrata Das could be forgiven for being a bit overawed around some of his acclaimed Kolkata team-mates. But with Pakistan’s Salman Butt on international duty, Das finds himself on the verge of playing in the big opener. He’s up against fellow Bengal batsman Wriddhiman Saha, but being a wicketkeeper may go against Saha given that Kolkata have Brendon McCullum. It’s a great opportunity to impress.
Not many in India would’ve followed Ashley Noffke’s career. Ushered in for Bangalore as cover for fellow Australian Nathan Bracken, he can be expected to play the first game. Noffke, 30, has played one ODI and two Twenty20s for Australia, and apart from his skills with the ball he is also a capable lower-order batsman, with two first-class centuries.
Team news
With only four overseas player allowed in a team, its unlikely that Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Cameron White will both play and White’s excellent Twenty20 record puts him ahead. With Anil Kumble ruled out through injury, White is also placed to take the lone spinner’s slot ahead of local lad KP Appanna. Kallis and Mark Boucher were expected to leave for the South African domestic Twenty20 competition but will now stay back but with Dale Steyn absent, Noffke could easily fill in. Misbah-ul-Haq will miss the opening clash because of the ongoing series in Pakistan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul is reportedly carrying an injury so another of the local boys, B Akhil or Bharat Chipli, could come into the middle order.
Bangalore (likely) 1 Praveen Kumar, 2 Wasim Jaffer, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Rahul Dravid (capt), 5 Virat Kohli, 6 Cameron White, 7 B Akhil, 8 Mark Boucher (wk), 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ashley Noffke, 11 R Vinay Kumar
Kolkata are without Butt and Umar Gul, in Bangladesh, and that opens up slots for young Das and Ashok Dinda, the Bengal medium pacer. Ganguly has said he will open, which means the explosive McCullum would come in after Ricky Ponting at No. 3. David Hussey and an in-form Laxmi Ratan Shukla strengthen the middle order. Shukla will assist Ishant Sharma and Ajit Agarkar and Murali Kartik – with Twenty20 experience in England – adds variety with his left-arm spin and handy lower-order batting. Chris Gayle has yet to arrive for the match and so his place in some doubt.
Kolkata (likely) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Brendon McCullum (wk), 5 David Hussey, 6 Debabrata Das, 7 Laxmi Ratan Shukla, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Murali Kartik, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Ashok Dinda.
Stats and trivia
Quotes
“The opening ceremony is expected to only be a short function. I don’t think it will affect the game that follows. Kolkata has a good side and we are prepared with strategies for them.”
Dravid, Bangalore captain
“There is no clear favourite in the shortest version of the game. Difference between teams lessens in the T20 format as the contest is too short. I consider this event as a contest between state sides with world-class players.”
Ganguly, Kolkata captain
“Sourav is a very cool-headed captain. He is very experienced. We expect him to lead from the front.”
John Buchanan, Kolkata coach
Jamie Alter is a staff writer at Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
Shah Rukh ’sleepless nights’ April 14, 2008
Four days before the start of the Indian Premier League the latest initiative of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the negatives are piling up .
In an extensive interview to the Kolkata-based Anand Bazaar Patrika, Shah Rukh Khan, who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, said he is “quite disappointed” at the poor audience response.
“The first day, when I heard this, I was really surprised that only 237 tickets had been sold at the counter,” Khan told the Kolkata paper. “I am truly finding it difficult to accept this. I have never, till date, requested my fans to go and see my films. Never ever done it. I am a bit surprised as to why, despite keeping the ticket prices low, people are not showing any interest.”
Khan said he is “very tired” by the IPL experience. “I never thought so many problems would crop up when I bought the Knight Riders. I was not prepared for these circumstances. A rosy picture, removed from reality, was painted to me,” he said.
One element in that rosy picture was that the franchise owners would be allowed to stage various forms of entertainment at the venues, in order to woo the fans. Apparently even that has run into trouble — apparently the Kolkata government, unlike governments of states hosting other franchises — has refused to provide tax exemption.
“How can I do it [hold an entertainment package] unless the entertainment tax is waived?” Khan told the ABP. “The tax has been exempted at all the other centres in India except in Kolkata.”
He said officials of the franchise have met government officials and appealed, but thus far, he has no word on whether exemption will be granted. “Involvement with the Knight Riders is giving me sleepless nights,” a clearly disgruntled Khan told the ABP.
The interview comes as the final straw on what has been a bad week for the IPL. The Press Trust of India late last week announced that it will boycott the event in protest against the draconian conditions laid down by IPL for the media.
The PTI boycott is a potentially devastating blow. In its inaugural year, the IPL needs as much publicity as it can get; PTI is the agency smaller, out of town newspapers and the vernacular media that cannot afford to send correspondents to cover the event live — or may not get accreditation, given the pressure on space — will rely on for news, information and features. The boycott by PTI virtually ensures a near total blackout, therefore, of the IPL in the medium and small scale segments of the media — thus preventing the league from drumming up interest and support in the grassroots communities.
The same is true for international coverage. The News Media Coalition, an umbrella body that incorporates global news and photography services such as Reuters, Associated Press (AP), Agence France Presse (AFP) and Getty Images, have also said that in view of the IPL’s restrictive clauses — most notably, the proscription on news agencies selling content and photographs to websites — the Coalition will boycott the event; thus reducing or in some cases eliminating international coverage of the much-touted league.
Shah Rukh Khan, and other franchise owners, are reportedly concerned over the threat of a blackout by some sections of the media. Cricinfo reported late last week that franchise owners plan to voice these concerns to IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, and ask that he resolve the issues.
‘If the issue escalates to a point where media or sections of the media will choose to ignore the IPL, we will have to step in, meet with IPL and seek clarifications. We need to find an amicable solution,’ Cricinfo quoted Charu Sharma, chief executive of the Vijay Mallya-owned Bangalore Royal Challengers, as saying.
The website also quotes Fraser Castellino, CEO of Jaipur’s Rajasthan Royals, as saying they had invested heavily in the venture and would like the entire media on board, to ensure that the event “reaches every heart”.
“For that, we need the entire media on our side,” Castellino said. “We hope the two parties, like two sensible people, will sit across the table and resolve the issue. We really have no time but we, as a franchise, are willing to step in and help resolve this situation.”
Castellino’s wish is unlikely to come true. Getty Images, a global photography service, has taken the IPL off its list of assignments for the month; equally significantly, PTI did not apply within deadline for accreditation, which effectively means it will not be present ringside to send in reports and features.
Bangalore snap up Misbah-ul-Haq March 11, 2008
MUMBAI: Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan batsman, and India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Virat Kohli have been bought by the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the second round of the Indian Premier League’s player auction in Mumbai on Tuesday. Misbah, who nearly took Pakistan to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 last year, was bought for US$125,000. , the England allrounder, was signed on by the Jaipur franchise for $100000, making him the first England player to be auctioned at the IPL. There had been a question mark over the participation of English players – excluded from the first round of the auction – in the IPL season, as it overlaps with the beginning of the county season. However, his county, Hampshire, has said it will give Mascarenhas the necessary no-objection certificate. The Jaipur franchise also signed up South African fast bowler Morne Morkel ($60,000), Australian allrounder Shane Watson ($125000), Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir ($100000) and a couple of Indian U-19 players in Taruwar Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja. The Kolkata franchise, now named the Kolkata Knight Riders, has bought two Pakistanis – Salman Butt ($100,000) and Mohammad Hafeez ($100,000) – and two U-19 players in Siddarth Kaul and Iqbal Abdulla. The Australians James Hopes ($300,000) and Luke Pomersbach ($50,000) and New Zealand bowler Kyle Mills ($150,000), have been bought by the Mohali franchise, in addition to two U-19 players in Tanmay Srivastava and Ajitesh Argal. Pradeep Sangwan, the left-arm seamer who impressed in his debut Ranji Trophy season and at the U-19 World Cup, will represent the Delhi Daredevils, as will uncapped Tasmanian fast bowler Brett Geeves ($50,000). Bangalore also signed up Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak ($50,000), New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor ($100,000) and Indian U-19 wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami. South African batsman Ashwell Prince was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $175,000, in addition to U-19 players in Saurabh Tiwary and Manish Pandey. Napoleon Einstein and Abhinav Mukund, two Tamil Nadu players from the U-19 World Cup, and Vidarbha’s Viraj Kadbe will represent the Chennai Super Kings.
