First IPL Attracts People!

The first version of the IPL 20-20 is a grand success. The cricket lovers from all over the world are enjoying the game and it attracted big mass from the Indian citizens.

It would be the first time ever that a Indian cricket lover from Chennai or Hyderabad or Delhi wanted Sachin to get cheaply, if not in zero.

It also had the relationship built across cricketing countries like Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, etc. The Indian plyaers shared the hotel rooms with foreign players and it should have improved the relationship.

The young Indian players had the opportunity to learn the culture of other countries and also the art of cricket from the experiened players like Gilchirst, Ponting, Fleming, McGrath, Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Jayasuriya, Ntini, Muralitharan, Pollock, Smith, Warne, Gibs, Watson, Hayden, Sachin, Ganguly, Dravid, Dhoni, etc.

Though fair play award was announced, there were few stray incidents that happened which no one liked:

Harbhajan slapped Sreesantha and was banned for the remaining IPL matches. When the incident happened, Mumbai had 11 more matches to play. He lost 3 crores of Indian Rupee which is the match fee. He was later banned for 5 ODIs by the BCCI.

Warne complained that Ganguly was not sportive after Ganguly made Warne and his team wait in the hot sun for five minutes. Ganguly also did not accept the umpire's verdict when he was caught at mid wicket. He forced the umpire to refer the third umpire which ruled in favor of Ganguly because the replay was not conclusive. Later, the umpire was suspended for one match for listening to the player and not taking his own decision; Warne and Ganguly fined 10% of match fee.

Bangalore Royal Challengers owner Vijay Mallaya fired his CEO Charu Sharma for the poor performance of the team. Brijesh Patel was brought in as new CEO. He openly critized both Charu Sharma and captain Rahul Dravid for not allowing him to pick the players he wanted during auction.

Mumbai Indians franchise owner launched an official complaint against the third umpire Suresh Shastri for the poor decisions. One run out was not given for Kings XI Punjab and a run out was given during Mumbai batting. Sachin mentioned that he those two runs could have saved the game for Mumbai Indians.

The media reported a rift between Kolkata Knight Riders owner Sharukh Khan and the skipper Ganguly over couple of issues. It was reported that SRK approached Ganguly to help him by talking to West Bengal CM on Entertainment Tax issue. The only ground in which entertainment tax is applicable is Kolkata and with Knight Riders playing 7 of their matches in that ground, forced to pay the tax, which SRK wanted to avoid. Ganguly did not help him. The other issue is about the decision of batting first or second in the match against Chennai Super Kings. SRK wanted Ganguly to bat second, but Dada batted first. Kolkata lost it by D/L method by 2 runs.

We have to wait and see how this tournament will be taken forward after the current T20!

Read: Man of the Match List

Read: Points Table

Read: IPL Scores Table!

Shoaib Akhtar Banned for 5 years!

The Rawalpindi Express, the premium fast bowler of Pakistan Cricket Team has been found guilty of violating the code and conduct. He has been banned for five years by the disciplinary committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Shoaib had appeared before a disciplinary committee in February after being charged with publicly criticising the Pakistan board for offering him a retainership instead of a contract. The board had offered contracts to 15 players, based on a formula that took into account their performance, but Shoaib was demoted to a retainership from the Category A contract he held last year.

"The board has lost confidence in Shoaib Akhtar and therefore felt his presence in the field was damaging to the Pakistan team, for Pakistan players and for the image of Pakistan cricket," the PCB chairman, Nasim Ashraf, told AFP. "The committee has recommended a five-year ban for Shoaib Akhtar. He will be ineligible to play in Pakistan or to play for Pakistan anywhere else in the world. [It is] a sad day for me and for Shoaib Akhtar. He is such a talented player."

Reacting to the verdict, Shoaib said, "he will go to court and fight against the ban."

He also negated Ashraf's claims that he was a negative influence on the team and vowed to make a comeback. "Ask the captain (Shoaib Malik), ask coach Geoff Lawson and they would vouch for me. I had played with high fever on the India tour (last year), which proved my commitment," he said. "I bowl fast so I am prone to injuries, but I have given my heart, soul and body to this team. I know some vested interest did not want me to be the part of the team, but I will be back."

Of course, Shoaib can appeal this verdict and has promised to do that.

He is already on probation for two years for hitting Mohammad Asif with the bat before the start of the T20 world cup in South Africa in 2007. He also paid the penalty of $52,000, which is approximately 34 lack rupees.

Danish Kanera was also charged with the same offense, but let off with a severe warning. He said, he was barred from issuing any press statments.

Schedule of Australia's tour to West Indies

Australia is touring West Indies from mid of May till first week of June 2008. They play one three-day practice match, test matches, one 20-20, a ODI practice match and then 5 one-day internationals. Few key players from West Indies are expected to miss, but we have around a month's time to know the status of the squad.

Practice Match

May 16-18, TBD v. Australia, venue to be decided

Test Matches

May 22-26, 1st Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica
May 30-June 3, 2nd Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
June 12-June 16, 3rd Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados

T20

June 20, 20-20, Kensington Oval, Barbados

Practice Match

June 21, D/N, University of Vice Chancellor's XI v. Australia at Three Ws Oval, Barbados

ODI

June 24, 1st ODI at Arnos Vale Ground, St. Vincent
June 27, 2nd ODI at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
June 29, 3rd ODI at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
July 4, 4th ODI at Warner Park, St. Kitts
July 6, 5th ODIat Warner Park, St. Kitts

Good luck to both the teams!

England Wins the 20-20 Series 2-0! Continues its Winning Habit!

Match 1: Auckland

Toss: New Zealand

Result: England won by 32 runs

Man of the Match: Mascarenhas (England)

Score:

England 184 for 8 in 20 overs (P. Mustard 20 in 13 balls with 2 fours and a six, Pietersen 43 in 23 balls with 6 fours and a six, Collingwood 26 in 22 balls with 1 four and a six, Shah 23 in 17 balls with 2 fours and a six, Mascarenhas 31 in 14 balls with 1 four and 4 sixes, Swann 15 not out in 10 balls with 2 fours, Mills 2 for 43, Martin 2 for 34) beat New Zealand 152 in 19.2 overs (Ryder 22 in 21 balls with 4 fours, Oram 61 in 40 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes, Sidebottom 3 for 16, Mascarenhas 2 for 19)

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Match 2: Auckland
Toss: Christchurch
Result: England won by 50 runs
Man of the Match: Collingwood (England)
Score:

England 193 for 8 in 20 overs (Mustard 40 in 24 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes, Wright 30 in 19 balls with 5 fours and a six, Collingwood 54 in 28 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes, Shah, 47 in 35 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes, Hitchcock 2 for 43, Southee 2 for 22) beat New Zealand 143 for 8 in 20 overs (Taylor 21 in 10 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes, How 31 in 25 balls with 3 fours, Mills 30 not out in 22 balls with 2 fours and a six, Sidebottom 2 for 19, Mascarenhas 2 for 25, Swann 2 for 30)

England in New Zeland - 2008 Schedule

Schedule:
England is touring New Zeland during this year and play in two 20-20, 5 ODI and 3 test matches. The schedule is as follows:

20-20:

1st 20-20: February 5, 2008, D/N at Eden Park, Auckland
2nd 20-20: February 7, 2008 D/N at Jade Stadium, Christchurch

ODI (50-50):

1st ODI: February 9, 2008 D/N at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
2nd ODI: February 12, 2008 D/N at Seddon Park, Hamilton
3rd ODI: February 15, 2008 D/N at Eden Park, Auckland
4th ODI: February 20, 2008 D at McLean Park, Napier
5th ODI: February 23, 2008 D/N at AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Test Matches:

1st Test: March 5-9, 2008 at Seddon Park, Hamilton
2nd Test: March 13-17, 2008 at Basin Reserve, Wellington
3rd Test: March 22-26, 2008 at McLean Park, Napier

The last time England tour to New Zeland ended in a drawn series with each team winning one test match and one ended in a draw.