Biggest IPL match

It is played between Shashi Tharror, the junior minister in UPA government and IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, and seems giving max TRP to the news channels. Both the players are playing to their stake, which is very high. At the moment Tharoor has upper hand, and seems used his good offices to put Lalit Modi under IT department scanner, but the damage has been done to Shashi Tharrors position via media scrutiny.

His alleged girlfriend and marketing wizard or beautician friend Sunanda Pushkar, has 18 % stake in Kochi team and Shashi Tharoor says he is mentor without interests, that is difficult to believe.

Now positions are taken on hourly basis, parliament is already rocked on the subject. Let's watch the biggest match of IPL.

Gary Kirsten - Coach for Indian Cricket team

According to BCCI officials Gary Kirsten has agreed to coach India. The formalities will be cleared in next two days. The initial contract will for two years and can be extended upto next world cup in 2011.

Kirsten played 101 Tests and 185 one-day internationals for South Africa in an 11-year career that ended in 2004.

The names of another South African cricket star, former skipper Kepler Wessels, and the high-profile Australian John Buchanan had also been considered, but the 40-year-old Kirsten eventually got the nod.

Graham Ford rejects offer to Coach Indian Cricketers

As soon as the news of selecting Graham Ford as coach for Indian colts, sinks down, a devastating news for BCCI has started flashing on Television screens that Graham Ford has rejected the offer to coach Indian Cricket team and content as Director to Kent club.

It's a big blow to reputation of Indian Cricket managers at BCCI especially Mr. Sharad Pawar. It seems nothing is working for him since he got elected by political manipulating the elections.

Tour to Ireland is just 10 days ahead and Indian Cricket Team is without coach and strategy. The events put a question mark on Captain Rahul Dravid's professionalism as the man preferred here was supported by him as a coach.

Graham Ford to coach Indian Cricketers

Indian Cricket team has a new coach finally in South Africa's Graham Ford. He was chosen for the job on Saturday, 9th June by a special selection committee constituted for the purpose by BCCI.

The 46-year-old former South African coach, holds the position of cricket director of English county Kent, was selected ahead of former England spinner John Emburey, an Indian board official announced after they were interviewed by its coach selection committee.

Born in Pietermaritzberg, Natal, Ford, like a number of South African players, excelled in various sports during his younger days. He was a good tennis player, too; so good that he once won the provincial tennis championship for Natal.

Ford has the backing of senior Team India players. Former India coach John Wright had suggested Ford for the top post to Rahul Dravid.

The special selection committee was headed by BCCI president Sharad Pawar and also includes MP Pandove, Niranjan Shah, N Srinivasan, and former captains Ravi Shastri, S Venkatraghav and Sunil Gavaskar who is said to have recommended John Emburey.

Big question who will be the Indian cricket coach?

Selection procedure of Indian Cricket coach is getting curious day by day. They almost zeroed on Dave Whatmore recently, and god knows what happened in between he is out of race now.

The new names on prominence are Englishman John Emburey along with South African Graham Ford. Which has coached Kent for a while. They will be presenting their ideas on June 9 before the special selection committee.

The 54-year-old John Emburey, was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1984, and holds the dubious distinction of being the highest England Test run-scorer (1713 runs) without a Test century. He claimed 147 Test wickets in 64 Tests, at an average of 38.4. He also captained England in two Tests, in 1988. After his playing career he coached Northamptonshire and Middlesex.

Dave Whatmore to coach India?

It is almost confirmed that Dave Whatmore will be coaching Indian Cricket team for the next year. Yes, the contract will be for the one year, it seems BCCI has learned a lesson from Greg Chappel episode and is making it sure that the new agreement doesn't repeat into the bad deal they experienced with Mr. Greg Chappel the Guru nicknamed by impatient Indian media.

Looking at the past records of Dave Whatmore and his maturity in public relations, He will definitely prove a good coach for Indian cricket.

Greg Chappel resigns as Indian cricket Coach

Indian Cricket team coach Greg Chappel has resigned citing personal and family reasons. The decision came two days before the scheduled BCCI meeting where a decision was to be taken on extending his contract. Greg Chappels with Indian side was up to the 2007 world cup only.

Greg Chappels innings with Indian side was a failure of a softs, as he couldn't deliver what was expected from him. When he took over the reins of Indian cricket team, world cup was the immediate goal with almost 2 years to go. The goal to build the team for world cup couldn't materialize and Indian team was out from the contest, sorely beaten by Bangladesh in initial rounds.

Chappel lacked attitude for coaching as he was poor in man management. He tried to bully senior players and and that proved fatal disturbing the team spirit and effect on over all moral of the team. He was arguably most controversial coach Indian cricket team had so far. He had a big showdown with ex-captain Sourav Ganguly, which resulted in dropping of Saurav from Indian team. But subsequent poor show by team in South Africa and Against West Indies forced Saurav Ganguly's come back. It proved Chappel is all the talk and no go. To worsen the situation team fared badly in world cup and Chappel put the blame on senior players questioning their attitude. It rubbed at wrong places and Sachin Tendulkar a demi god indian cricket was hurt by Chappels analysis of debacle.

Chappels impulsive nature and style of functioning has brought the Indian team to such a low that they were beaten by Bangladesh in world cup. His excessive experiments and division tendencies were detrimental for the indian cricket teams fortune. In fact Chappel is never been a good coach as evident from a provincial side of Australia he coached. Now it has become difficult for the get another assignment as coach any where in world with Indian experience.

Anil Kumble decides to retire from one day Cricket

India's highest wicket taker Anil Kumble has decided to call it a day. He is going to announce his retirement from limited overs cricket when the Indian Cricket team returns from the Caribbean.

The 36 year leg spinner has made his intentions of quitting from the limited overs game much before the world cup. This was his fourth world cup, representing India colors.

Kumble was born in Bangalore, India on October 17, 1970. His One Day International debut was against Sri Lanka at Sharjah, on April 25, 1990, and the last ODI he played against Bermuda during this world cup.

In his long career in 271 One Day Internationals bowling leg spinners, he has taken 337 wickets at the average 30.89, his best is 6-12 runs and he has taken 5 wickets twice.

Fanning the fanaticism in Indian Cricket.

Cricket is a game, and it needs to be taken as game. Indian cricket team was booted out of the world cup 2007 contentions and huge fanatical response was registered by the Indian cricket fans, it was exaggerated and sometimes fanned by the media for no reasons.

Now the talk about axing the senior players is going on and every news reader and so called cricket experts think that only solution to the lack of performance of indian cricket team is to axe the senior players from the team. As if the juniors have performed and it is for the want of contribution from seniors team is giving bad show.

It was evident that team was not in best of the tempo before going to the world cup.
Reasons can be multiple. Greg Chappel as a coach has devastated the team built by Sourav Ganguly and John Write. It may be bad strategy by team management in nurturing the young talent or practices of over experimenting, which resulted in in security in the players ranks. Natural consequence should be ending the contract of the coach and changing the captain for lack of proper leadership on the field and off the field.

Whatever it be, but the need of moment is not to react in already volatile environment and buy the time to take a saner decision with proper inputs.

Pakistani cricket coach Bob Woolmer dead

Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica has declared Pakistani cricket coach Bob Woolmer dead some time ago. Pakistan has lost to Irish team yesterday and its a big blow to Pakistani cricket.

Bob Woolmer was 58 years old, born in kanpur, india and played cricket for England.
He was found unconscious in his hotel room today and later shifted to a hospital. Speculations are that he has taken something poisonous.

Pakistani team has lost to team from Ireland yesterday tamely, and was out of cricket world cup because of two successive defeats. There were rumours that Pakistani Captain and coach were to be sacked as a consequences.

China spends $132 millions for Cricket World Cup 2007

What is common between Cricket and China? you may not have the answer there. And there is no Chinese cricket team playing this world cup. But, China is spending $132 millions in West Indian countries for the Cricket World Cup 2007. Strikingly he world cricket body International Cricket Council has a 10 year budget to promote cricket globally of just $70 million.

This Chinese gesture is not just for love of Cricket. It is to isolate the Taiwan, which has also spent around $33 million.

Chinese gave $55 million to Antigua to build the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket stadium, even they sent thousands of Chinese workers to finish the stadiums in time, and $30 million to Jamaica for a new Trelwany stadium. Reason for the largesses is Chinese determination to isolate Taiwan from world.

Cricket World Cup 2007 Time-Table Warm Up Matches

Date Group WA Trelawny, Jamaica Group WB St. Vincent Group WC Trinidad & Tobago Group WD Barbados Mon 05 Mar West Indies vs Kenya England vs Bermuda South Africa vs Ireland Sri Lanka vs Scotland Tue 06 Mar India vs The Netherlands Australia vs Zimbabwe Pakistan vs Canada New Zealand vs Bangladesh Thu 08 Mar Kenya vs The Netherlands Zimbabwe vs Bermuda Ireland vs Canada Scotland vs Bangladesh Fri 09 Mar India vs West Indies Australia vs England Pakistan vs South Africa New Zealand vs Sri Lanka

Opening Ceremony Date Activity Sun 11 Mar OPENING CEREMONY

Group Stage

Date Group A St. Kitts & Nevis Group B Trinidad & Tobago Group C Saint Lucia Group D Jamaica Tue 13 Mar Rest Rest Rest West Indies vs Pakistan Wed 14 Mar Australia vs Scotland Rest Kenya vs Canada Rest Thu 15 Mar Rest Sri Lanka vs Bermuda Rest Zimbabwe vs Ireland Fri 16 Mar South Africa vs The Netherlands Rest England vs New Zealand Rest Sat 17 Mar Rest India vs Bangladesh Rest Pakistan vs Ireland Sun 18 Mar Australia vs The Netherlands Rest England vs Canada Rest Mon 19 Mar Rest India vs Bermuda Rest West Indies vs Zimbabwe Tue 20 Mar South Africa vs Scotland Rest New Zealand vs Kenya Rest Wed 21 Mar Rest Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Rest Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Thu 22 Mar Scotland vs The Netherlands Rest New Zealand vs Canada Rest Fri 23 Mar Rest India vs Sri Lanka Rest West Indies vs Ireland Sat 24 Mar Australia vs South Africa Rest England vs Kenya Rest Sun 25 Mar Rest Bermuda vs Bangladesh Rest Rest

Second Stage - Super Eight

Date Group A Antigua & Barbuda Group B Grenada Group C Guyana Group D Barbados Tue 27 Mar D2 vs A1 Rest Wed 28 Mar Rest A2 vs B1 Thu 29 Mar D2 vs C1 Rest Fri 30 Mar Rest D1 vs C2 Sat 31 Mar A1 vs B2 Rest Sun 01 Apr Rest D2 vs B1 Mon 02 Apr B2 vs C1 Rest Tue 03 Apr Rest D1 vs A2 Wed 04 Apr C2 vs B1 Rest Sat 07 Apr Rest B2 vs A2 Sun 08 Apr A1 vs C2 Rest Mon 09 Apr Rest D1 vs C1 Tue 10 Apr D2 vs A2 Wed 11 Apr Rest C2 vs B2 Thu 12 Apr B1 vs C1 Rest Fri 13 Apr Rest A1 vs D1 Sat 14 Apr A2 vs C1 Rest Sun 15 Apr Rest B2 vs D1 Mon 16 Apr A1 vs B1 Rest Tue 17 Apr Rest A2 vs C2 Wed 18 Apr D1 vs B1 Rest Thu 19 Apr Rest D2 vs B2 Fri 20 Apr A1 vs C1 Rest Sat 21 Apr Rest D2 vs C2

Semi - Final Round

Date Semi Final 1 Jamaica Semi Final 2 Saint Lucia Tue 24 Apr 2nd vs 3rd Wed 25 Apr 1st vs 4th

Final

Date Barbados Sat 28 Apr Final

New light blue color jersey for Team India

Indian Cricket team gets ready for Cricket World Cup 2007, a new Jersey has been designed by their apparel sponsors NIKE Inc. It's light blue color and 15 percent lighter. According to NIKE official it is designed to beat the heat in West Indian climate.



A lot of inputs from Dravid and the other players have gone into the making of the new jersey. Since tying up with BCCI, Nike officials informed that they have been interacting with coach Greg Chappell and the entire support staff to finalise details of the jersey.


Some of the highlights of the new designed jersey are.

• Lightweight poly microfibre fabric
• Vents for breathability ensured due to engineered mesh
• Dri-fit technology to keep players dry from sweat and cool all day long
• Easy body movement due to design
• Shades of the Tri-colour on the jersey for inspiration
• Thermal vest adds warmth, reduces wind resistance and bulk

Marlon Samuel in match fixing scandal

Marlon Samuel of West Indies cricket team is the latest addition to players falling to match fixing scandal. After the Nagpur police conveyed the findings on conversation of bookie Mukesh Kochar with Samuel, where Samuel reveals vital information to the bookie. These revelations has casted serious doubts about fairness of latest West Indies tour to India.

It is now apparent that demon of match fixing has engrossed the cricketing fraternity all over the world.

Unfortunate thing about all these incidents is that every time a scandal is exposed the bookies involved are from India and these people have a link with mafia don's currently settled in middle east. It's a shame on our beloved country.

Big money in cricket is bound to make the players vulnerable for these kind of allurements. It is easy making good money for under performing or revealing the team strategy to the bookies. People involved in these scandals make big money as betting on cricket goes into multi million dollars.

India wins first test in South Africa

India's win in South Africa has many highlights. Three comeback boys Ganguly, Zahir, and Laxman proved old is gold and experience counts, counter to the beliefs of current think tank in team management constituting Greg Chappel & Rahul Dravid. Strings of dismal performances in last six months were results of faulty policies of team management, which in the name of experimenting put the players into uncertainty and insecurity. It has also proved that Ganguly's ouster has more in cricket politics than rather cricketing reasons.

The first positive move the indian cricket board did is appointment of Dilip Vengsarkar as Chairman of Selection Committee. Which had a joker like Kiran More till recently, destroying the team spirit in current contingent.

Guru Greg's capabilities in man management are clearly in doubt, and the motives of building a team for next world cup have not delivered. So does the Dravid's captaincy not up to mark when compared to Ganguli, who build the team with putting faith in youngsters.

Sourav Ganguly's comeback


Comeback in Indian cricket is not a rarity. In distance past Mohinder Amarnath and presently VVS Laxman are regular comeback boys. But Mohinder wasn't a controversial character so does Laxman.

So what is special about Ganguly's comeback in indian cricket team? look at the background, he was out of form, the coach Greg Chappel and Captain Rahul Dravid is against his comeback, the current tour of indian team is difficult one as it is always when india is touring, south africa has good pace bowlers and they are in form, they have made fast and bouncy wickets to demolish indian batsmen, even Sachin Tendulkar is struggling. And look man against all these oddities our man has clicked. The first match he played was against Rest of South Africa and he is match winner in it with score of 81 in first innings when top order collapsed. The fist test story gets repeated and Ganguly is top scorer in first innings with 51 not out.

All the credit to his will power and determination and of course luck man, nothing happens without it. He is great trier and that works for him. I feel he is necessary character in Indian team, indian team is incomplete without him. Keep it up Sourav.

Navjot Singh Siddhu convicted for Murder

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday convicted cricketer-turned-MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for causing the death of a Patiala resident following a scuffle in 1988.

A division bench, comprising Justices Mehtab Singh Gill and Baldev Singh, overturned his earlier acquittal by a lower court and found 43-year-old Sidhu guilty of culpable homicide, not amounting to murder, for the death of Gurnam Singh.

Gurnam Singh died on December 27, 1988 after Sidhu and his associate had allegedly beaten him at a Patiala market following a dispute. Gurman Singh had actually died of a heart attack on the spot after the incident.

The court will decide on the quantum of punishment for Sidhu on Wednesday, December 6. Under Section 304 of IPC, the maximum sentence could be imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Sidhu has been convicted under Section 304 of IPC. The court pronounced the verdict while hearing an appeal of the Punjab government against an earlier verdict of the Patiala district court, acquitting Sidhu in the murder case. A separate appeal was also filed by the son of the victim.

The district and sessions judge of Patiala had on September 22, 1999, acquitted Sidhu in the case, which was registered under Sections 304 and 34 of IPC at police station, Kotwali, Patiala on December 27, 1988 for causing the death of Gurnam Singh.

The FIR registered by the Punjab Government on December 27, 1988 alleged that Navjot Sidhu and Rupinder Singh Sandhu had showered blows on Gurnam in Sheranwala Gate Bazaar of Patiala after dragging him out of his car and injuring him.

The sessions court had dismissed the case in 2000 on the grounds that there was a delay in lodging the case.

Sidhu and his associate had allegedly beaten up Gurnam over a dispute over the parking of vehicles outside the State Bank of Patiala branch, where Sidhu was employed. Sidhu has always maintained that the incident was merely an accident and that he had no intention of causing harm to the person.

The news will no doubt put his highly successful post-cricket career as an expert and entertainer in jeopardy. Contrary to the fame he has achieved as a member of the Indian cricket team since the 1980s, his almost four-year-old career as a commentator and of late for his opnions, more famously known as 'Sidhuisms', have propelled him to become a household name.

The appeals against Sidhu's acquittal were filed in 2002 and on November 29, 2002, the court admitted the same for further hearing.