Mandira Bedi's new look for IPL 09

During the last IPL, Mandira Bedi sported a bob cut complete with red streaks.

She had told us then, “This is the first time that I’ve cut my hair so short. I was a little hesitant to get them chopped, for I’m a Sardarni.”

Guess she was really happy with what the mirror told her. For, she’s gone and done it again – and this time too, it is her friend and hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani, who has styled Mandy’s ‘IPL’ look.

Says Sapna, “This time I’ve given her a still shorter cut – but a lot of fringes on the forehead. Since she is going to be away for a month, I thought the cut would be easy to maintain.” But those red streaks will not be there. “Red streaks fade away too quickly and start looking bad,” explains Sapna.

[credit : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Mandiras-look-in-IPL-/articleshow/4425784.cms]

Tendulkar - I will not take anything for granted

Cape Town: They might have made a resounding start to their IPL campaign with a convincing win over last year's runners-up Chennai Super Kings, but Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar is not ready to take things for granted and wants to build on the good start.

Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 59 to script his team's victory in the opening match of the second edition of the Twenty20 extravaganza, said, "The start is good but it is still a long way to go. I won't take anything for granted."

Tendulkar, who was adjudged Man of the Match, said the initial overs were difficult for batting and lavished praise on Sanath Jayasuriya and Abhishek Nayar for adjusting well.

"When I lost the toss, I realised there was a dampness in the wicket. The first 6-7 overs were difficult and later on Abhishek Nayar came and played a terrific innings and my job basically was to just be there and play till the end and guys on the other end played their strokes," he said.

On being asked what could be a decent total on the South African wickets, Tendulkar said anything around 150 would make a good fight.

"Looking at about 145-150 would be a decent total. Don't look at 180 plus but if you can get into 150-160 then it could be a good total," he said.

[credit : http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200904182280.htm]

IPL braces up for White Mischief

New Delhi: England star Kevin Pietersen will have a bunch of "naughty' and "hottie" cheerleaders rooting from the sidelines when he makes his Indian Premier League debut on Saturday.

Pietersen, bought by the Bangalore Royal Challengers for a record $1.55 million, will clash with good friend Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals on the opening night in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Royal Challengers, owned by flamboyant liquor and airline tycoon Vijay Mallya, had hired the Washington Redskins cheerleaders for the inaugural IPL season last year in India.

The scantily-clad girls obviously failed to inspire as the Royal Challengers finished seventh out of eight teams in the glitzy Twenty20 tournament.

So Mallya dropped the Redskins and hired 24 members of the US-based Varsity cheerleader group for the second season, renaming them the "White Mischief Gals".

"A little bit naughty, a little more hottie and a lot more mischievous," a Mallya company release said of the group, named after his 'White Mischief' brand of vodka.

"Necklines plunging, hemlines rising, they are all set to let the mercury soar, higher than any of the sixes that come from the blades of Kevin Pietersen."

The cheerleaders, the release added, have been "specially trained in flirty acrobatic skills for a scintillating on-field performance."

The use of cheerleading squads last year provoked complaints from some conservative quarters in India.

The Mumbai Indians forced their cheerleaders to don pants instead of skirts after protests from political parties.

The White Mischief Gals will travel across South Africa for all Royal Challenger matches during the five-week tournament, offering fans "flirtatious messages and tips," the statement said.

Pietersen will only enjoy their support for the first two weeks, as he is due to return to England in early May to prepare for the Test series against the West Indies.

[credit : http://cricketnext.in.com/news/ipl-braces-up-for-white-mischief--in-pics/39941-18.html]

Mandira Bedi goes strapless

Small screen's diva Mandira Bedi is back with a bang! Well the pretty lady who shot to fame through Cricket is returning to cricket. In 2003 during the world-cup series Mandira had become a household name and she was more so popular for her sizzling outfits (as they say so - her noodle-strap blouses / dresses) almost mixing cricket and glamour.

Seems like this time the lady, who will be hosting the popular cricket show 'Extra Innings' for IPL series, the T-20 event, is planning to go one step further. If the current reports are to be believed than Mandira at the recently held IPL Press meet went ahead saying, obviously in good humour that they believe in raising the bar, as they can see her strapless (this time). Probably hinting about her would-be appearance in the show.

Well Mandira, people are waiting with bated breath, probably not for the 4s and 6s but watching you.

[credit : http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/09/apr/14-ma-n-dira-bedi-goes-strapless-040912.asp]

Flintoff eager to play in IPL

Flintoff, who was bought by Chennai Super Kings for a record $1.55 million, has had several niggling injuries, the latest of which was a hip problem that ruled him out of the final Test and first two One-day Internationals in the West Indies.

"I have missed so much cricket through injury that I don't want to miss any more," Flintoff was quoted as saying in the Guardian.

"I've not played a lot of Twenty20 cricket and I'd like to play more. I'm not saying the money is not very appealing, but there's a lot more to it. I spent several weeks working very hard at my fitness when I came back from the West Indies and, hopefully, that will stand me in good stead come the summer," he said.

England will host West India May 6 and then will have Australia for the Ashes series in June.

[credit : http://sports.in.msn.com/ipl/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2495974]

Ishant supports Buchanan's multiple captaincy idea

New Delhi: Giving a thumbs up to John Buchanan's multiple captaincy idea, Kolkata Knight Riders pace spearhead Ishant Sharma said the innovative theory could actually help his Indian Premier League side do well in the second season.
Ishant supports Buchanan's multiple captaincy idea
Sourav Ganguly was not amused with the idea but Ishant said there was no harm in having four captains as their different ideas could help the team overcome last year's failure.

"Sourav Ganguly is a good captain but sometimes you need new ideas which Buchanan theory can generate," he said.

"Buchanan is a very good coach and bit of support from other players can turn the things around for KKR," he said.

The lanky fast bowler said his IPL side will miss the services of experience Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar.

[credit : http://sports.in.msn.com/cricket/stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2929100]

Yuvraj Singh : IPL ideal for Cup preparations

Mumbai: Yuvraj Singh said on Saturday that the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting on April 18, would be the ideal preparation for the World Twenty20 to be held in England in June.

“The IPL has come at the right time, before the world championships. Each team has 14 games before the semi-finals and final, and it would be a good practice for everybody,” Yuvraj, captain of Kings XI Punjab, said at a press conference here.

He, however, refused to be drawn into a debate on the controversial multiple captaincy theory put forth by Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan.

“No comments. I do not want to say anything about other teams,” Yuvraj said

He also refused to single out any side as the Kings XI’s main rivals, saying all eight teams were good. “I don’t want to single out any team. There are lot of good teams,” he said.

Yuvraj felt the performance of fast bowlers would be a key factor in the coming IPL as the wickets in South Africa are faster than the Indian pitches where the first edition was played.

“The conditions will be different this year. The wickets will be fast and fast bowling will be important and their performance would be crucial,” he said.

Kings XI Punjab owner Preity Zinta said the absence of Australian speedster Brett Lee, who is set to miss most part of the league due to national commitments, would not be felt.

“We have Burt Cockley, a young Australian who can bowl at 140 kmph. He will be our mainstay in the fast bowling department. We have a lot of aces up our sleeves,” the Bollywood actress said.

“Lee is available (for part of the tournament). We have to go there and see what is the best balance,” he said.

Yuvraj also revealed that he went through an emotional turmoil during the first one-day International on the recent tour of New Zealand.

The Punjab player said that the news of the terrorists’ attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers on March 3 in Lahore while he was at the crease in Napier, had left him a shaken man.

“I was batting with Mahendra Singh Dhoni when one of our teammates passed on the news. My hands started shaking and I couldn’t bat,” Yuvraj said.

Yuvraj was run out for two in that match. The impact of the terror attack, however, would remain a conjecture.

The Kings XI Punjab captain would meet the Lankan cricketers for the first time after the attack when he flies to South Africa to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) next week. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, two of the players who were wounded in the attack, are the Yuvraj’s teammates in the Mohali-based side.

“I had spoken to Sangakkara and Mahela (Jayawardene) after the match. Thankfully, they were safe. I am looking forward to playing with them,” the middle order batsman said.

[credit : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090412/jsp/sports/story_10809302.jsp]

Venkatesh Prasad hoping to ‘study’ foreign players during IPL

New Delhi, April 12: India’s bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad believes that the upcoming IPL Twenty20 tournament in South Africa will present an opportunity for him and the Indian team members to study and decipher the technique of foreign players, which will help strengthen India’s chances in the Twenty20 World Cup to be held later this year in England.

"Most of the international players will look to use the IPL as a launchpad for the World Twenty20 and you have to be smart here. It`s all about how much of information you want to share and how much information you can gain from others. I am sure there will be a lot of people who would like to know a lot about the Indian team. So I need to be very clear about how much of information I would like to share with others, even if they are from your own IPL team,” Prasad told a cricket website.

"At the same time, I would like to pick the brains of players like Freddie Flintoff, Ntini, Morkel or even Stephen Fleming (Chennai`s head coach) in terms of how the New Zealand guys go about their business in a Twenty20 situation," the former Indian bowler added.

Prasad also said that the conditions this time around will be different than last year and it would be interesting to see how the foreign coaches cope up with the challenge.

"I really don`t know if the domestic players would be able to understand what the foreign coaches are saying. I am not very sure about that. I am not criticising anybody here. But the fact is the way we play our cricket is completely different. So I don`t know how coaches who don`t know how we play our cricket are going to manage.”

"In India, the whole approach is slightly different; for instance, we use much more of our wrists than anybody else, we play more by instinct. We take most of our decisions out there (on the field). You might have a plan, but you also need to go out there and use your mind in terms of assessing the situation and dealing with it," he said.

[credit : http://cricket.zeenews.com/fullstory.aspx?nid=19374]

Flintoff dismisses IPL fitness fears

Andrew Flintoff does not believe playing in the Indian Premier League will have a detrimental effect on his performances for England because of the amount of cricket he has missed in the last year.

The 31-year-old has had several niggling injuries, the latest of which was a hip problem that ruled him out of the final Test and first two one-day internationals in the West Indies.

It has been suggested Flintoff should be wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the Ashes this summer, but the all-rounder told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek: "I don't know about that. I have missed so much cricket through injury that I don't want to miss any more."

He added: "I've not played a lot of Twenty20 cricket and I'd like to play more. I'm not saying the money is not very appealing, but there's a lot more to it.

"I spent several weeks working very hard at my fitness when I came back from the West Indies and, hopefully, that will stand me in good stead come the summer."

Other England players, notably Kevin Pietersen, have said the rigours of a long winter away have taken their toll, and Graeme Swann even likened the events of the last few months to an episode of Eastenders.

Flintoff's Caribbean tour may have been interrupted by injury but he was involved in the debates following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and he insists missing home is normal.

"It's been a tough winter all round," he said. "Going to India before Christmas with everything that happened, and coming home and going back, was testing for everyone.

"There have been lots of things going on. These are long tours. We are proud to play for England but people have got things at home as well and families who you desperately miss when you're away. When you come to the end of a trip, of course people are looking forward to getting home and seeing people you haven't seen for a long time."

[credit : http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5htaIVkR2IEzK5akTlrzJcmZZ-Q6g]

Captain Warne arrives in South Africa

New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne arrived in South Africa on Thursday for the second season of the Indian Premier League.

Warne hasn't played any cricket since leading his team to victory last year but appears to be fit and ready for the challenge this season.

The Royals play a warm up game against the South African domestic Twenty20 champions Nashua Cape Cobras this Saturday and their first match is against the Bangalore Royal Challengers on the April 18 at Cape Town.

[credit : http://cricketnext.in.com/news/skipper-warne-arrives-to-defend-title/39828-27.html]

Twenty20 changing players' priorities - Wisden

The 146th edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, launched today, reflects on 12 months in which Twenty20 has continued to reshape the game and cricket, in general, has been forced to confront a range of major challenges.

Scyld Berry, the Sunday Telegraph cricket correspondent who is editing Wisden for the second time, opined that due to the brevity of the matches, 20-over cricket lacked the "drama that a full day of intense cricket provides."

But perhaps more concerning, Berry writes, is the shift in players' priorities caused by the IPL, highlighted by Sri Lanka's withdrawal from its tour of England after 13 players demanded they be allowed to play in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament. And the problems are not confined to Asian nations. Berry also notes that England's IPL players are due back less than a week before the first Test against West Indies at Lord's.

As with last year's Almanack, Berry has commissioned players - both former and current - to be a key part of the editorial. Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, reveals an apocalyptic vision of cricket's future, with players serving as mercenaries and flying from one 20-over tournament to another without playing Test matches. Vaughan also discusses the pressures of captaining England and how he had to often hide his emotions.

Berry again voices concern about the lack of free-to-air TV coverage in the UK. While he acknowledges that the ECB attracted top dollar for the sale of international TV rights to BSkyB, he draws attention to chilling research carried out among more than 26,000 schoolchildren in South London.

The Pro-Active survey asked secondary school students which three sports they would like more access to. Cricket was ranked 21st on the list, behind archery and rounders. Berry concludes that much of the impetus gained from winning the Ashes in 2005 has been lost - and also draws attention to the near total disappearance of British-raised Afro-Caribbean cricketers.

Another blight on the game, Berry notes, is the failure of Test captains to adhere to over-rate guidelines, reducing games to a glacial pace and cheating fans out of action. Berry proposes two potential solutions to the problem: not allowing anyone onto the field except at the official intervals (other than in extreme circumstances), and insisting that lunch and tea only be taken after 30 overs have been bowled in each session.

As usual, Wisden is not afraid to break new ground and Claire Taylor's inclusion as one of the five Cricketers of the Year marks the first time a women has been included in the list. The other four honoured are James Anderson, Dale Benkenstein, Mark Boucher and Neil McKenzie. Virender Sehwag narrowly eclipsed Graeme Smth for the Leading Cricketer award after both openers enjoyed epic years.

In a new section, Wisden selects a Test XI of the year. Berry writes: "Almost every international cricketer, when questioned, says the ultimate form of the game is Test cricket…the highest, most skilled, form of the game, and the least subject to the intrusion of time."

The 2008 Wisden Test XI Virender Sehwag, Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell Johnson, Dale Steyn, Zaheer Khan.

The Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year went to James Taylor, from Shrewsbury School, following a phenomenal summer, scoring 898 runs in schools cricket at an astounding average of 179.60.

Sweet Summers, a selection of the classic cricket writing of JM Kilburn, is the winner of the Wisden Book of the Year award. Kilburn, cricket correspondent of the Yorkshire Post for more than 40 years from before the Second World War until 1976, "possessed the eye of a reporter and the soul of a poet" according to Wisden's reviewer, Patrick Collins.

[credit : http://content.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/398781.html]

Abdullah joins King's XI

King's XI Punjab have strengthened their squad for the 2009 Indian Premier League season with the signing of Yusuf Abdullah.

The left-arm seamer made his international Twenty20 debut for South Africa against Australia last month, claiming 1-16.

He has been drafted in by the King's XI to replace the West Indies' Jerome Taylor, who has had to withdraw due to injuries sustained in a car accident.

"I got a call from Tom Moody (Punjab coach) the day after my debut asking if I was interested," Abdullah said.

Opportunity

"I'm quite excited about the upcoming challenge. The IPL is in town and this is a good opportunity for me, hopefully I can do well.

"I'm familiar with the wickets, and that can play to my advantage."

Abdullah, who plays his domestic cricket for the Dolphins, was on the final IPL shortlist earlier this year but was not signed by any team.

"He's a talented bowler, and it was a good opportunity for us to get some local talent into our squad," Punjab assistant coach, Dave Nosworthy, said.

"It's exciting to have the IPL in the country, and hopefully we'll perform to our capabilities and keep the crowds entertained."

[credit : http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15815_5153221,00.html]

IPL 2 - Andrew Flintoff to sply on Indians

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff believes the Indian Premier League would provide him the opportunity to spy on his opposition, including Indian players, which will come handy during his side's ICC World Twenty20 campaign in June.

"The Twenty20 World Cup is going to be huge and international Twenty20 cricket is going to become bigger and bigger," Flintoff was quoted as saying in the 'Guardian'.

"While I'm out there I'll be watching the likes of Dhoni, who has played a lot of it, and Hayden who had a good IPL last year. I will be speaking to a few of the Indian guys and see if I can pick their brains," he added.

With the upcoming Ashes series in July, Flintoff feels he has to be a little cautious as not to give away any secrets.

"I think you'll find players helping each other out and talking to each other, but the flip side of that is that other sides have England team-mates so you have to be a bit cautious about what you're saying.’’


"Ultimately, it's all about playing for England and by passing on a bit of information about one of your players could be to the detriment of this team and that's something you can't do," he said.

Flintoff, who was bought by the Chennai Super Kings at USD 1.5 million and will feature in the Twenty20 tournament starting on April 18, said the IPL stint will help him to stay at the peak of his game.

"It's been frustrating with the hip injury, thigh injury and getting hit on the thumb just before the end of the tour of the West Indies and I think the IPL will be good for me.’’

"There are a few people putting it down but keeping playing should help me out a lot. When I stop and start is when my body is at its most vulnerable.’’

"I know I'm only bowling four overs a game, but it will give me a chance to work on my game in between games going into a Test series and I will be working with top facilities out in South Africa."

Flintoff will play only seven matches before reporting back in England on May 1 for the tough summer ahead, which includes Test and ODI series against West Indies, the ICC World Twenty20, the Ashes series and a seven-match ODI series against Australia.

"It is a long schedule and everyone is looking forward to the Ashes and making sure everyone is fit for that but I've stressed all along that we have to perform in all the games we're playing," said Flintoff.

"From my point of view, although it's been frustrating I've had four or five weeks when I've not played because I've been injured so I'm probably fresher than a lot of the lads.’

Strauss left out of Twenty 20 squad

Test captain Andrew Strauss has been omitted from England's ICC World Twenty20 squad.

England national selector Geoff Miller defended the decision to drop the opener, who was the top scorer in the one-day international series in the Caribbean.

"Andrew Strauss had an outstanding tour of the West Indies during a difficult winter," Miller said.

“Andrew and the selectors believe his game is better suited to Test and ODI cricket and it is for that reason he has not been selected in the preliminary 30-man squad for the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20.

“Andrew is focused on the Test and ODI format of the game despite not being included in the 30-man Twenty20 squad.

“The selectors have decided against naming a captain for the ICC World Twenty20 at this stage because we feel it is important to comprehensively review the recent tour of the Caribbean and seek input from all relevant parties including the incoming England team director who is yet to be appointed."

The 30-man squad contains the uncapped Joe Denly (Kent), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Graham Napier (Essex) and Adil Rashid (Yorkshire).

The panel will be cut to 15 on May 1.

England 30-man ICC World Twenty20 squad:

Kabir Ali (Worcestershire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Gareth Batty (Worcestershire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Steve Davies (Worcestershire)
Joe Denly (Kent)
James Foster (Essex)
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
Steve Harmison (Durham)
Robert Key (Kent)
Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)
Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Graham Napier (Essex)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Chris Tremlett (Hampshire)
Shaun Udal (Middlesex)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)

[credit : http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/other-sports/2009/04/06/Cricket-Strauss-left-out-of-Twenty20-squad/gnid-47434/]

IPL would be a success - Shilpa Shetty

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty believes that IPL matches are going to be a success. The actress co-owns Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals.

The second edition of IPL is taking place in South Africa. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to shift the Twenty20 tournament outside the country after state governments failed to assure security for the event that clashed with general elections.

Last year’s winning team, Rajasthan Royals will kick off the series with a match against Bangalore Royal Challengers at Newlands, Cape Town April 18 and the 33-year-old actress also admitted to undergoing pressure to maintain the winning streak.

Shilpa posted on her blog on board a flight to Cape Town, “Kudos to the South African government and South Africa cricket body who have welcomed us with open arms and I am really hopeful after attending the Australia vs South Africa Pro T20 Match on Friday, seeing the huge cricket fan base there, I am sure that the IPL will be hugely successful.”

[credit : http://www.freshnews.in/ipl-would-be-a-success-says-shilpa-shetty-134447]

IPL’s exit sends out wrong signals to all

Only a reckless banker or a client-less astrologer will be willing to gamble their money and reputation on the outcome of the General Election.
But one thing is certain: if Congress performs poorly in urban India and fails to reap the harvest of youth votes it is banking on, a large share of the blame will go to the ‘munshis and managers’ who forced the T-20 IPL tournament out of India.

In the course of just one successful season, IPL had become one of the biggest global brands, comparable to Wimbledon and the football World Cup. The Central government chose to deal with this Indian achievement with the same bloody-mindedness it displayed in the allocation of 2G and 3G spectrum for the telecom sector. An outpouring of meanness drove the Nano plant out of West Bengal. Last week, P Chidambaram donned the mantle of Mamata Banerjee and forced IPL out of India. Like Mamata, who felt that Ratan Tata could be browbeaten because he was a hostage to money already invested in Singur, North Block proceeded on the assumption that the IPL was a helpless captive. And just as Tata had to cut his losses and resist blackmail politics, Lalit Modi inveigled IPL out of a desperate situation with a daredevil flight to South Africa.

The implications of IPL’s exile from India are awesome. There is, of course, the colossal loss of income for all those directly or indirectly involved in the cricket extravaganza — from humble vendors at the venues to the hospitality and travel industry. This, in turn, will have a bearing on government revenues which are already feeling the pinch of the slowdown.

But there is a more horrifying dimension which goes beyond accountancy. Chidambaram was being more than a little disingenuous when he argued that the IPL organisers were being unreasonable in putting entertainment above democracy. If it had been a case of adjusting the dates of a few matches to accommodate the policing arrangements for five different phases of polling, no one in the BCCI would have contemplated taking such an extreme step. The organisers agreed to add new venues such as Ahmedabad, Dharamsala and Raipur so as not to over-burden the administration of the metros. Gujarat, for example, accepted the offer of six games without any reservations; it had a problem with the date of a seventh match.

It is more than a little curious that the IPL faced resistance only from the Congress-ruled states. It was the firm no from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi that finally clinched the issue in favour of South Africa. In Delhi, where policing is under the direct purview of the Centre, even chief minister Sheila Dikshit was in favour of hosting matches. Yet, the police chief informed her and Delhi Cricket Association president Arun Jaitley that no permission would be forthcoming before, during and after the polling. As far as the Centre was concerned, IPL could go to hell.

The Government, it would seem, was intent on teaching the IPL organisers a lesson. Whether this was because of Lalit Modi’s proximity to Vasundhara Raje or prompted by a desire to deflate BCCI president Sharad Pawar is a matter of conjecture. Also, worth considering is the Congress Party pressure on the IPL to lift the total ban on political advertising at the venue and during the official telecast. Whatever the real story, there is compelling evidence to indicate that the government hostility was not prompted by national security imperatives. It can hardly be the case that terrorists were intent on targeting only Congress-ruled states.

The global message of the IPL flight to Africa is stark. India has sent out a loud and clear signal that the country is unsafe for any major event that involves international participation and crowds. The simple message: India is as dangerous as Pakistan.
India can only hope and pray that the world of global finance is mystified by cricket and fails to gauge the significance of the IPL fiasco.

If this self-inflicted ignominy is shameful, consider the other implication. India has proclaimed that it will respond to the terrorist challenge by running away from it. If terrorists target cricket, ban cricket; if terrorists frown upon a Rakhi Sawant Nite, deny permission to item numbers; and if zealots in Azamgarh want to impose an ideological veto on a political rally, meekly acquiesce. In an age of vote banks, this is called prudent politics.

No wonder, the latest batch of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists trying to cross the border carried T-shirts proclaiming ‘Jihad is my life.’ The army took them on frontally and did India proud. The vote-banker in the Home ministry would have responded differently. He would have banned T-shirts.

[credit : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Columnists/IPLs-exit-sends-out-wrong-signals/articleshow/4329083.cms]

IPL might get bigger : Preity Zinta

Preity Zinta, who co-owns Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab, says the Twenty20 tournament moving to South Africa is like "asking Preity Zinta an actor to perform in a theatre where nobody knows her", but the Bollywood star also hopes the shift helps in making the event bigger.

"The option was to either have it outside India or not at all. No one is happy to shift from home ground. That thrill of playing across our own country at domestic tournaments is gone. Going to various cities with the matches is a high," Preity told IANS in an interview.

"But we've to be optimistic. Last year when the IPL started everyone thought it would flop. It became the biggest hit ever. Likewise, the shift to South Africa could make the IPL bigger," she said on a positive note.

The actress is a little upset that the IPL crisis coincided with the release of her film "Videsh - Heaven On Earth" in India.

"The timing of the IPL crisis was unfortunate. My most challenging film 'Heaven On Earth' is on release. I'd have liked more time nurturing it. You know I did 'Heaven On Earth' for myself... I just needed to connect more with my inner self. This film made me do that," said Preity.

Excerpts from the interview with IANS:

Was it a shock to you when the IPL was relocated to South Africa?

The option was to either have it outside India or not at all. No one is happy to shift from home ground. That thrill of playing across our own country at domestic tournaments is gone. Going to various cities with the matches is a high. However, people can still watch it on TV. That's still there.

But an Indian event shifted to South Africa?

I know. But we've to be optimistic. Last year when the IPL started everyone thought it would flop. It became the biggest hit ever. Likewise the shift to South Africa could make the IPL bigger. What else can I do except be hopeful?

But it's being translocated to a new culture and environment?

Of course, it is! But what can we do? I've always believed whatever happens in life happens for the best. The timing of the IPL crisis was unfortunate. My most challenging film, 'Heaven On Earth', is on release. I'd have liked more time nurturing it. You know I did 'Heaven On Earth' for myself. Lots of times I've done things for this reason and that. But this time it was entirely for me. I just needed to connect more with my inner self. This film made me do that.

Tell me about your preparation for the role.

I've worked quite a lot with battered women. I've studied so many kinds of mental disorders. Domestic violence comes much after other forms of disorder. Every scene in 'Heaven On Earth' rings true. I had a hundred notions on how to play the role. But when I met abused women I decided it has to be very real. I'm very proud of it. Let's see how audiences in India react.

So the IPL moving out of India is like uprooting a national event?

Exactly. It's like asking an actor to perform in a theatre where nobody knows
him. But we'll make sure that the quality and profile of the game don't change. Only two percent of the audience watches the game in a stadium. Most of them watch the game on television.

But there's that vibe when the game happens on home ground. That spirit can't be captured anywhere. Having said that I don't want to sound whiny and petty. I want to thank South Africa for agreeing to host the IPL games. They've gone out of their way to accommodate us, flung their fields open to us. I think South Africa will make a beautiful home for the games.

Wasn't the choice between South Africa and England?

Yes, there were several options. But it finally came down to choosing between those two countries. We didn't want to go into a place where there was too much rain. I think South Africa will be fun. Who knows, they might even allow me to play. That's my secret fantasy. Miracles do happen, you know.

Is it just elections that ousted IPL from India. Or was there a security scare after what happened to the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan?

I refuse to believe India is scared about the security. Does the country shut down because we can't get enough security? I think we need to vote even more carefully. We must put proper people in places of power. I don't think we should vote for anyone who has got criminal records. See their track records and then vote.

How will you be ready with the IPL in South Africa in time?

We Indians don't only exist in chaos. We thrive in it. Even last year when IPL happened for the first time we grappled with all odds. I know I'm going to have sleepless nights. But that's a different story. I can't pretend I'm not disappointed by the relocation. But South Africa is a terrific country.

I'll have lots to do besides cricket. In Punjab it was difficult for me to move out. Preity Zinta will have a blast shopping in South Africa. Preity Zinta, the team owner, is worried. We've no players from South Africa. Neither does Shah Rukh (Khan).

Are the boys demoralized by the relocation?

Their choice was between no IPL and IPL in South Africa.

[Credit : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bollywood/IPL-might-get-bigger-Preity/articleshow/4330193.cms]

England loses the IPL race to South Africa?

NEW DELHI: The moment Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi switched his travel plans to go Johannesburg instead of London, it was evident where the second edition of the Twenty20 cricket tournament is headed.

Modi dropped enough hints in his now famous late night exclusive interviews to Indian television channels to suit the prime time overseas, that South Africa is his preference, the fickle late winter weather ruling England out.

He said the organisers needed to take the weather pattern into account besides other factors like the April 26 London marathon which could make getting rooms extremely difficult. And then there is the English County season and the Test and One-day series against the West Indies.

Modi had made it clear that South Africa is a more attractive proposition what with their domestic season ending before the IPL gets underway. In England, some key venues will not be available for the IPL games without disrupting their domestic programme.

Moreover, South Africa is closer to India and that would give a time advantage over England.

Importantly, in this time of recession, the cost of holding the tournament will be cheaper in South Africa than in England, though the overall expenses will go a manifold because of the switch from India.

The other vexed problem for the organisers was the TV rights issue. In South Africa, Supersport has the rights to the IPL as well as all international cricket played in the country whereas in England Setanta holds the IPL rights and Sky Sports the international rights. Sky will have to telecast the England-West Indies series when the IPL would be on.

Simply put, South Africa has good stadiums, impeccable facilities and perfect weather to boot. Of course, the presence of Indian diaspora will be as good as it is in England and they all enjoy the shortest version of the game as seen in the Twenty20 World Championship two years ago.