Dada is a dude for Knight Riders says Shah Rukh

Sourav Ganguly may no longer be the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, but team owner Shah Rukh Khan feels the former Indian skipper is still a "dude" and pivotal in the side's scheme of things in the on-going IPL.

"Dada is fantastic and there is no two ways about it. He does not need to prove it to anyone how great as a player he is. We know it in KKR. He's the main cog of our team. He's the guy the team centres around," Shah Rukh said in praise of Ganguly.

"(Brendon) McCullum, (Chris) Gayle, Brad (Hodge), David (Hussey), Ishant (Sharma), (Ashok) Dinda, Laxmi Ratan (Shukla) all feel the support from him, feel his intelligence, feel his winning ways. Dada is a dude," said the Bollywood superstar.

Shah Rukh also felt that Ganguly's two wickets for 24 runs tilted the match in his team's favour against Kings XI Punjab.

"Against Kings XI Punjab he was amazing with those couple of wickets. When Dada came on and got those two early wickets it changed the match in our favour and after that also he sort of kept them quiet and scared. I think that made a lot of difference," he was quoted as saying by IPL official website.

Shah Rukh said it was too early to start celebrating after his team posted its first win in two games by beating Kings XI Punjab.

"It's good for the team that it has started coming together. Our top-order whether it's Ishant Sharma (in bowling) or Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle (batting) all are coming good together. We did not play too hot on the first day. I think the first match would be considered as a practice match and we are working on the mistakes committed on day one. The team is working together and that's what makes me feel a little more firm and good. But there is still a long way to go," he said.

Shah Rukh had a tough choice when asked who he thinks is bigger hitter between Chris Gayle or Brendon McCullum. "It is very difficult to say that. With Gayle we have a bet that he has to send one ball from South Africa to Kolkata and with McCullum we have that he has to send one back to New Zealand. We'll find out who is going to win. "I think both have their different strengths. Gayle has this timing and strength, McCullum has all timing and bliss.

McCullum is more like (Virender) Sehwag who times the ball whereas Gayle has got this strength like Yuvraj Singh. You can't really choose between them, they are both fantastic and when they both get going it is fantastic to watch."

[the article was originally published http://cricket.expressindia.com/news/Dada-is-a-dude-for-Knight-Riders--Shah-Rukh/450418/]

Mohali teams fans, can chat with IPL players online

VADODARA: Fans of Team Mohali will be able to interact with their favourite cricketers during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) next month. The team management has decided to allow the players of Team Mohali to chat online with their fans. It is probably the only team that has decided to allow the players' interaction with the fans online.

The players will be able to login on the team's website and chat with the fans an hour after the match is over.

"It is an innovative and exciting idea and I am looking forward to chat with my fans online. I have never interacted with cricket fans online and this is a great opportunity for me," said Irfan Pathan, who plays for Team Mohali.

"Such interactions will help us know the views and ideas of our fans. Many cricket followers want to ask lot of questions to the players and such chatting will help us connect with them," Irfan added.

The chatting facility is also expected to help cricketers, who will be playing in South Africa, connect with their fans back home. The Team Mohali players will also be allowed to post blogs on the team website wherein they will express their views on several aspects of cricket.

[credit : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Vadodara/Team-Mohali-fans-can-chat-with-IPL-players-online/articleshow/4331537.cms]

Let warm Durban host IPL final

JOHANNESBURG: Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock on Wednesday said Durban should host the final and semi-final matches of the Indian Premier League because of the favourable weather conditions in the city.

"Durban is the only city in the country with the warm weather to make it feasible to hold matches that deep into winter," Pollock said.

Pollock, adviser to the Mumbai Indians franchise, though was apprehensive how local fans would connect with the teams.

"Our fans may struggle initially to identify with teams. In that respect, it would have been better to have franchises based in particular cities to give people time to get to know 'their' team," he said.

The tournament will see 59 matches being played in five weeks, which Pollock said would be very demanding from players, who will shuttle between six different venues.

"It will also mean, with 25 players per franchise, that guys will lead a nomadic life on the road, unable to leave their stuff at their base camp," Pollock said.

[ credit : http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Let-warm-Durban-host-IPL-final-Pollock/articleshow/4313265.cms ]

IPL ?? It’s action time at Napier

Oh, by the way, lest we forget, the Indian cricket team is currently in New Zealand for a Test series with the second of the three-match rubber commencing at Napier on Thursday! Jokes apart, the IPL has been hogging the limelight following the shift to South Africa, relegating Dhoni’s men to the background. India’s wonderful performance in the first Test that they won by 10 wickets has been overshadowed by the hoopla over IPL 2009.

Our cricketers must have heaved a huge sigh of relief when the IPL was rescheduled to start on April 18 that will provide them a few days to recover at home on their return from New Zealand before flying out to South Africa. Going into the second Test, it is to be hoped that the Indian players are not distracted by the IPL that follows a 45-day tour of New Zealand.

Honestly, I was glad that South Africa was chosen ahead of England, and to an extent, not surprised at all. More than the weather factor, it would have been an overkill of T20 cricket had England been the venue. With T20 World Cup scheduled to start within a week after the IPL and again, in England, it would have led to the dilution of the Cup.

As it is, there is far too much cricket being played to an extent that performances are quickly forgotten, victories are not savoured and there is no time for post-mortem of defeats. It is time that the ICC’s programme committee took a step back and put an end to this madness of non-stop cricket. But I wonder whether the authorities give a tuppence for such thoughts when the cash registers are ringing.

Be that as it may and reverting to the New Zealand tour, I am sure Dhoni would be keen on wrapping up the series – another historic achievement it would be – and to this end, might be reluctant to disturb the winning combination that had performed creditably in the first Test.

Going by reports, the Indian team is definitely enjoying itself with some well-planned rest day activities devised to keep them fresh in body and mind. The bounce and confidence that the team is radiating do not bode well for the Kiwis who can expect to be rolled over at Napier.

Barring Vettori, McCullum and to a lesser extent Ryder, the New Zealand side appears a patched up combination lacking in quality and the intensity that is needed to sustain high levels of performance over five days. It would seem that the Kiwis are far too much in awe of the Indians. New Zealand would have to play out of their skins to come back into the series, a task that appears hopelessly beyond them.

India’s main concern should be complacency, something they need to guard against. Cricket, besides being a great leveler, can be a cruel sport to those who believe they have everything sewn up. Although it is difficult to visualize a Kiwi resurgence, you cannot take anything for granted in cricket. In the event, the Indians would be better off by keeping it tight and going in for the kill at Napier.

The Kiwis have been hinting at a “green top” for the second Test in an effort to provide some assistance to their bowlers, but it could boomerang on them given the Indian seam attack. Zaheer and Ishant are undoubtedly the best new ball pair in world cricket at the moment and if the third seamer, Munaf or Balaji, gets going, then we could well witness a repeat of the Hamilton Test.

The series has turned out to be anything but a close contest with India the better side in every department. Kiwis have been not just outplayed, but also outclassed. We could well look forward to another Indian win at Napier if form book remains unchanged.

India are on a roll and the momentum is very much with them. The Kiwis better watch out!

[credit : http://sify.com/sports/fullstory.php?id=14874980 ]

IPL Shift won't hamper international cricket in India - Miandad

Karachi : Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad believes that relocation of the Indian Premier League would not have any adverse impact on future of international cricket in India.

"I don't think it will affect future tours. Because their general elections were a bigger issue for the government than the IPL and it had to be shifted by the organisers," Miandad said on Tuesday.

"Secondly, India is the biggest commercial market for cricket and I don't think the International Cricket Council or its member countries can afford to not to play in that country for any reason. There is lot of money involved," he added.

Miandad, who has played 124 Tests, also feels the Asian countries should sit together to find a way to restore cricket in Pakistan after the terror attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

"After the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore obviously Pakistan cricket has been hurt badly. But overall I think the Asian nations need to sit down together and come up a joint strategy to provide security to touring teams that are acceptable to the ICC and its member nations," he said.

"I just feel that India has to play a lead role in ensuring security issues, don't kill the sport in the region," he added.

Miandad also hoped that the Pakistan cricketers who were stopped by the government from playing in IPL earlier, would now get a chance to appear after relocation of the tournament.

"I just hope our players also get a chance to play in the tournament now as it is not being held in India," he said.

[credit : http://sify.com/sports/fullstory.php?id=14874980 ]