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Draft system for Under-19 players The sixteen Under-19 players will be picked by the eight Indian Premier League franchises based on the "draft system" that is in practise in the various US leagues, according to Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman. More... Indian Premier League Draft system for Under-19 players Sriram Veera March 10, 2008 Delhi's Virat Kohli could end up playing for another side after the draft system is implemented © Getty Images Sixteen Under-19 players, including the members of the Indian squad that won the World Cup earlier this month, will be picked by the eight Indian Premier League franchises based on the "draft" system in practice in the various US leagues, Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman has said. The draft pick will be held during the second IPL auction, which will also include 18 foreign players, in Mumbai on March 11. The players' fees - what the franchise will pay for them - have been fixed across the board at US$30,000 for this year, ending all speculation about whether the players will be auctioned in a manner similar to the seniors. "The U-19 selection will be based on the draft system based on leagues like US NFL system," Modi told Cricinfo. "This year, since, we don't have a ranking, it will be a draw of lots. From next year the team's ranking will be based on the first year's performance." That is the system used in American National Football League, where the team with the lowest winning percentage in the previous year gets the first option. However, since this is the first year of the IPL they have no previous record to go by and have chosen to implement the draft system. Sundar Raman, the CEO of IPL, explained the process: "The franchises will be allotted numbers, from 1 to 8, at random on the basis of lots, and the players will be ranked by the IPL governing council. The franchise assigned the number 1 will get the chance to pick any player of their choice and then the second franchise can select their player and so on. "After eight players are picked in this manner, the order of the bidding gets reversed. The eight franchise will have the first choice to pick their player, then the seventh franchise can select the player of their choice and so on. The franchises can also choose not to pick any player." The list of 15 players has already been circulated and the franchises have been told the 16th name will be added today. Unlike the NFL, the NBA uses a draft lottery system where the positions are obtained by semi-random selection. This deters teams from deliberately playing poorly in the end of the season to get a higher draft position. The US$30,000 tag has found favour with some of the franchises. "It's a good move. There was a danger of spoiling the young kids with too much money at this stage in their career, "TA Sekhar, Delhi's cricket operations chief, told Cricinfo. The IPL council was earlier considering incorporating a clause to give franchises a preference while picking players from their catchments. However, the draft system now allows a franchise to pick a player from some other region and we might see a situation where Delhi's Virat Kohli turns out for another side.

[King]

What has the world come to? Aussie player wants to play in India for free. There used to be a time when Aussie players frowned upon at a mention of tour to India. The likes of Lillee never played in India because they thought it was a third world country. Welcome to the new world order.

[siddhu]

What has the world come to? Aussie player wants to play in India for free. There used to be a time when Aussie players frowned upon at a mention of tour to India. The likes of Lillee never played in India because they thought it was a third world country. Welcome to the new world order.

well the same Lillee has been a bowling consultant/coach or something like that with MRF Pace Academy for years. Though i am not completely sure, I don't think he would have said that.

[Guest Hiten.]

HAHAH...money talks

[Kartikey]

HAHAH...money talks

errr, he said he doesnt want the money.

[Kartikey]

What has the world come to? Aussie player wants to play in India for free. There used to be a time when Aussie players frowned upon at a mention of tour to India. The likes of Lillee never played in India because they thought it was a third world country. Welcome to the new world order.

The West's time has gone, it is our turn. Just wait we will eventually overtake china as well. JAI HIND

[ludhianvi]

Rajasthan best placed for second auction The second IPL auction takes place in Mumbai on Tuesday, with the Rajasthan Royals best placed to make the most of the situation. Eighteen players are up for grabs, with 16 Under-19 players being decided by draft pick. Jaipur have US$2.05 million of unspent money, the most among the franchises, and are looking to sign up a couple of Australians, including Shane Watson and James Hopes. Most of the other franchises are focussing on picking up U-19 players on the auction date. "We approached the first auction in a very careful manner. We know the players we want and now we will pick them," Fraser Castellino, the Royals' CEO, told Cricinfo. Shane Warne's presence, as captain-cum-coach, could prompt them to sign his Hampshire team-mate Watson. However, fellow Australian Brad Hodge is not expected to be included in the auction despite his name appearing on the list on Sunday. Lancashire, where he is due to spend the coming county season as an overseas player, expect to have his services from the start of the new campaign in April. "We spoke to Brad last night [sunday] and he confirmed he has no intention of being part of the IPL this year," a Lancashire spokesman told Cricinfo. The approximate amounts remaining with the other franchises are: Bangalore $374,000; Chennai $23,750; Delhi $71,250; Hyderabad $262,500; Kolkata $107,500; Mohali $292,250; and Mumbai $53,750. It was reported that Jaipur were fined for under-bidding in the first auction - they were required to spend US$3.3 million but spent only $2.9 million and were reportedly asked to pay the difference as penalty - but Fraser said that they have not paid any penalty so far. Bangalore will focus on boosting their batting strength and will be looking to pick up at least one batsman during the auction. The Hyderabad franchise, which recently signed up former Indian allrounder Sanjay Bangar, are not seriously looking to pick up anyone here. "We will be present in the auction but as of now it's unlikely we will pick anybody," a source said. The Chennai and Mumbai outfits do not have much money with them and are looking to focus on the U-19 players in this auction. "We don't have any money left to buy any big player," a representative of the Chennai franchise said. "And we have quite a few foreign players already in our squad and only four can play can anyway. So we'll go after the U-19 players." The Kolkata franchise's interest - or lack of it - in the auction can be gauged from the fact that they are unveiling their team in Kolkata around the same time the auction will be held in Mumbai. The Mohali coach Tom Moody was cautious ahead of the auction. "There are only a few [franchises] that have got a few pennies left in the bank so we will see what happens," Moody told AFP. Some of the franchises have made signings since the auction on February 20; these are largely junior players and those from the catchment areas. The interim signings: Delhi have drafted in Yo Mahesh, Shikhar Dhawan, Mithun Manhas, Rajat Bhatia and Mayank Tehlan. Bangalore have enlisted the services of Sunil Joshi, Balachandra Akhil, R Vinay Kumar, Bharat Chipli, J Arun Kumar, KP Appanna, Devraj Patil. Chennai have signed up Goa's Shadab Jakati, Uttar Pradesh's Sudeep Tyagi, R Ashwin, Srikkanth Anirudha and S Badrinath. Mumbai have taken on the Baroda wicket-keeper, Pinal Shah, along with Mumbai Ranji players Abhishek Nayar and Ajinkya Rahane and Maharashtra's Yogesh Takawale. Hyderabad have roped in Sanjay Bangar, Venugopal Rao, N Arjun Yadav, D Ravi Teja, Pragyan Ojha, D Kalyankrishna, P Vijay Kumar, M Sarveesh and Orissa's Halahar Das. Mohali have signed up VRV Singh and two U-22 players in Karan Goel and Uday Kaul. Jaipur have brought in Pankaj Singh, Mumbai's U-22 player Anup Revandkar and a reality cricket show winner Dinesh Salunkhe, a legspinning allrounder. Sriram Veera is a staff writer at Cricinfo ----------------------------- wow, do you guys remember Salunke from the reality show. Good to see guys like him make some money due to ICL, IPL.

[fineleg]

who is Salunkhe...pls. shed some light.

[ludhianvi]

finey, The show was called 'Cricket Star' and it was hosted by Ajay Jadeja, Kapil Dev, Robin Singh, others. It was basically a reality show to pick the best cricketer just like Indian Idol or Saregama. The winner of the show won a county contract. And Salunkhe was one of the finalists I think. More info here: official site: http://www.cricketstar.tv some more info http://set-asia.livejournal.com/tag/cricket+stars Some forum with pics http://www.india-forums.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=261 They are coming with second season of it 8JACxdc402g

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Australians no certainty for IPL - Sutherland Australia's players will not necessarily be free to play in the Indian Premier League this year despite the postponement of their tour to Pakistan. The series would have clashed with the IPL, however Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland has said they still have the tour of West Indies to consider. More... Pakistan decision leaves gap in the calendar Australians no certainty for IPL - Sutherland Cricinfo staff March 11, 2008 Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and their team-mates no longer have commitments in Pakistan but they still have a West Indies tour to prepare for in May © Getty Images Australia's players will not necessarily be free to play in the Indian Premier League this year despite the postponement of their tour to Pakistan. The series would have clashed with the IPL, however Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland has said they still have the tour of West Indies to consider. "The Indian Premier League is due to commence on April 18," Sutherland said. "The Australian team is due to arrive in the West Indies for a tour in early May. So there is a small window of opportunity there for players to perhaps play in IPL. "But at the same time we've now got this calendar issue, where players won't have had much preparation leading into the West Indies tour. So our coaching staff and team management are now considering what the appropriate lead-in is going to be for the team." Australia's first tour match in the Caribbean is scheduled to start on May 16, which would seem to give the players time for a short IPL hit-out before flying in to the West Indies. The first Test begins in Jamaica on May 22. That means the IPL-signed Test players Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee and Michael Hussey need to be in the Caribbean from early May. One-day specialists like Nathan Bracken, however, might have the chance for a longer IPL spell with the limited-overs contests in the West Indies starting in mid-June. But Sutherland said it was too soon to confirm any involvement of Australia's cricketers in the IPL. "With this decision being made today we need to do a little bit more work," he said, "just to work out exactly what the best preparation for the West Indies tour is going to be."

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IPL money for infrastructure: Pataudi According to MAK Pataudi, the money generated through the IPL will be used to improve cricketing infrastructure. More... IPL money to be used to improve infrastructure: Pataudi Indo-Asian News Service Chandigarh, March 11, 2008 First Published: 16:24 IST(11/3/2008) Last Updated: 18:52 IST(11/3/2008) The money generated through the Indian premier League will be used to improve cricketing infrastructure, former Indian captain MAK Pataudi said on Tuesday. He said money will be used to improve infrastructure so that not only cricketers, but spectators too are able to take benefit of the improved facilities. "Both the players and spectators should get best facilities," Pataudi told reporters in Chandigarh. Pataudi, who is a member of the Indian Premier League committee, will be inaugurating a two-day IPL seminar for the curators and turf managers at PCA stadium in Mohali tomorrow. When told that rebel ICL's second edition of Twenty20 had failed to attract crowds, Pataudi said this would not be the case with IPL. "Our event is on a much bigger scale and enjoys the backing of BCCI and ICC," he said. Meanwhile, world famous curator from Adelaide Oval, Les Burdett, will be sharing his experience with the Indian curators particularly of eight city centres chosen by the franchisees for ICL inter-city tournament. The seminar will be conducted by Chairman of BCCI's Ground and Pitches Committee, Daljit Singh and Burdett will support him with his rich experience of laying different kinds of wickets. During the seminar the emphasis will be on to provide "sporting and lively pitches" to the IPL teams, BCCI Joint Secretary, M P Pandove, who is also PCA's secretary, said.

[Sachinism]

Auctions Round 2 The second round of the IPL's players' auction on Tuesday was in stark contrast to the high-profile, star-studded event held on February 20. Twenty-eight players were signed up - including 14 of India's Under-19 players - but, with most teams close to their US$5 million cap, the prices too were low-key: at $300,000, James Hopes, who joined Mohali, was the day's most expensive signing. The biggest name traded on the day was Pakistan's Misbah-ul Haq, a star of the Twenty20 World Championship last year; he was signed up by Bangalore for $150,000. But the biggest surprise was the allrounder, Dimitri Mascarenhas, who became the first England player to join the IPL. Mascarenhas, who joined for $100,000, will play under Shane Warne, his captain at Hampshire as well. Though Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman and commissioner, had predicted no English presence, Mascarenhas has cleared all hurdles and even got an NOC from Hampshire. Ashwell Prince, who wasn't picked up in the first round, was signed on by Mumbai Indians for $175,000. Even though the franchise had only $53,750 left after their first-round buys, Modi said the remainder of Prince's contract price of 175,000 would be paid by the IPL. The Under-19 players were chosen under a draft system and Delhi got first pick. They chose Pradeep Sangwan, who will get $50,000 and not $30,000, as he has played the Ranji Trophy. Nine of the 14 Under-19 players signed up today have played in the Ranji Trophy, including Virat Kohli, the India U-19 captain, who joined Bangalore. The original list had 16, but the Hyderabad franchise decided to pass their two drafts. The day's signings left Bangalore, Kolkata and Jaipur with nine overseas players in their ranks, one more than permitted under IPL rules. However, Cricinfo has learned that the IPL management agreed to relax the rules to accommodate as many players as possible. "Yes, Bangalore and a couple of other teams do have nine foreign players," Charu Sharma, the Bangalore franchise's chief executive, told Cricinfo. "There were good reasons for having an eight-man limit, but with some of the players contracted by the IPL [like Ashwell Prince] still available, there was mutual agreement between the franchises that a ninth man could be chosen, if needed." In the event, all available players were signed on except Pakistan's Mohammed Yousuf, who had also missed out in the first round. Jaipur, who spent the the least in the first auction, 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 and Ravindra Jadeja. The Kolkata franchise bought two Pakistanis - Salman Butt ($100,000) and Mohammad Hafeez ($100,000) - and two U-19 players in Siddarth Kaul and Iqbal Abdulla. Mohali's two Under-19 players were Tanmay Srivastava and Ajitesh Argal, and they also picked up New Zealand bowler Kyle Mills and Luke Pomersbach for $150,000 and $50,000. Tasmanian fast bowler Brett Geeves ($50,000) was a surprise buy for Delhi. Mumbai bought Saurabh Tiwary and Manish Pandey, while Napoleon Einstein and Abhinav Mukund, two players from the U-19 World Cup, and Viraj Kadbe will represent the Chennai Super Kings. Besides Misbah and Kohli, Bangalore signed up Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak ($50,000), New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor ($100,000) and Indian U-19 wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami. March 18 is the last date for the franchises to announce their final squads.

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Hopes the biggest draw in low-profile auction The second round of the IPL's players' auction on Tuesday was in stark contrast to the high-profile, star-studded event held on February 20. Twenty-eight players were signed up - including 14 of India's Under-19 players - but, with most teams close to their US$5 million cap, the prices too were low-key. More... Indian Premier League Hopes the biggest draw in low-profile auction Nagraj Gollapudi in Mumbai March 11, 2008 Misbah-ul-Haq was signed up in the second round of auctions © AFP The second round of the IPL's players' auction on Tuesday was in stark contrast to the high-profile, star-studded event held on February 20. Twenty-eight players were signed up - including 14 of India's Under-19 players - but, with most teams close to their US$5 million cap, the prices too were low-key: at $300,000, James Hopes, who joined Mohali, was the day's most expensive signing. The biggest name traded on the day was Pakistan's Misbah-ul Haq, a star of the Twenty20 World Championship last year; he was signed up by Bangalore for $150,000. But the biggest surprise was the allrounder, Dimitri Mascarenhas, who became the first England player to join the IPL. Mascarenhas, who joined for $100,000, will play under Shane Warne, his captain at Hampshire as well. Though Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman and commissioner, had predicted no English presence, Mascarenhas has cleared all hurdles and even got an NOC from Hampshire. Ashwell Prince, who wasn't picked up in the first round, was signed on by Mumbai Indians for $175,000. Even though the franchise had only $53,750 left after their first-round buys, Modi said the remainder of Prince's contract price of 175,000 would be paid by the IPL. The Under-19 players were chosen under a draft system and Delhi got first pick. They chose Pradeep Sangwan, who will get $50,000 and not $30,000, as he has played the Ranji Trophy. Nine of the 14 Under-19 players signed up today have played in the Ranji Trophy, including Virat Kohli, the India U-19 captain, who joined Bangalore. The original list had 16, but the Hyderabad franchise decided to pass their two drafts. The day's signings left Bangalore, Kolkata and Jaipur with nine overseas players in their ranks, one more than permitted under IPL rules. However, Cricinfo has learned that the IPL management agreed to relax the rules to accommodate as many players as possible. "Yes, Bangalore and a couple of other teams do have nine foreign players," Charu Sharma, the Bangalore franchise's chief executive, told Cricinfo. "There were good reasons for having an eight-man limit, but with some of the players contracted by the IPL [like Ashwell Prince] still available, there was mutual agreement between the franchises that a ninth man could be chosen, if needed." In the event, all available players were signed on except Pakistan's Mohammed Yousuf, who had also missed out in the first round. Jaipur, who spent the the least in the first auction, 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 and Ravindra Jadeja. The Kolkata franchise bought two Pakistanis - Salman Butt ($100,000) and Mohammad Hafeez ($100,000) - and two U-19 players in Siddarth Kaul and Iqbal Abdulla. Mohali's two Under-19 players were Tanmay Srivastava and Ajitesh Argal, and they also picked up New Zealand bowler Kyle Mills and Luke Pomersbach for $150,000 and $50,000. Tasmanian fast bowler Brett Geeves ($50,000) was a surprise buy for Delhi. Mumbai bought Saurabh Tiwary and Manish Pandey, while Napoleon Einstein and Abhinav Mukund, two players from the U-19 World Cup, and Viraj Kadbe will represent the Chennai Super Kings. Besides Misbah and Kohli, Bangalore signed up Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak ($50,000), New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor ($100,000) and Indian U-19 wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami. March 18 is the last date for the franchises to announce their final squads

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Australians closer to playing in IPL The Australian Cricketers Association [ACA] has said that the Australian players are likely to be allowed to participate in the initial stages of the Indian Premier League before beginning preparations for their tour of West Indies, which begins in May. More... Indian Premier League Australians closer to playing in IPL Cricinfo staff March 13, 2008 Tim Nielsen feels that the IPL could help Australia's preparations for the West Indies tour © Getty Images The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) has said the Australian players are likely to be allowed to participate in the initial stages of the Indian Premier League before beginning preparations for their tour of West Indies, which begins in May. The ACA said Cricket Australia indicated there would be no objection to players taking part during the first 14 to16 days of the IPL Twenty20 tournament, which begins on April 18. However, they would have to return to Australia for a training camp before leaving for the West Indies in the second week of May. "I don't think there will be a problem," ACA chief executive Paul Marsh told AFP. "Certainly based on our discussions with Cricket Australia to date I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be able to play in the IPL, assuming there are no other commitments to Cricket Australia." Australia coach Tim Nielsen also wasn't averse to the players taking part in the IPL. "As long as it fits in and Cricket Australia is comfortable with it, I don't have any problem," Nielsen told the Age. "I always encourage guys to be playing county cricket when it fits in because it is nice to be playing competitive and organised cricket. It is probably the best preparation they can get to put their bodies through those sorts of workloads. However, the CA spokesperson Peter Young said the first priority was to ensure the team had adequate preparation for the tour of West Indies. Australia are scheduled to play a tour match in the Caribbean on May 16 ahead of the first Test in Kingston from May 22. The Australian cricketers were available to play in the IPL after CA postponed the tour of Pakistan, which was scheduled for April, due to security concerns. However, CA chief executive James Sutherland had said that the postponement of the Pakistan tour did not guarantee the players' availability for the IPL because it may clash with practice ahead of the trip to the West Indies.

[cochise]

By hook or crook they will be there...just you wait and see. SHOW THEM THE MONEY!!!!

[Rohan495]

what chanel in the US. is IPL being telecasted on?

[koksmayu]

Gilchrist felt like 'a cow' after IPL auction Adam Gilchrist may have felt like 'a cow' after being auctioned at the cash-rich Indian Premier League, but the just-retired Australian wicketkeeper-batsman says he does not mind being part of the "unique and interesting" venture. Gilchrist admitted that his name being auctioned was an unusual experience for him and he would wait and watch what the IPL had in store for the players. "There was a little element of feeling like a cow. But it's interesting and unique. There is a slight uneasiness. But let us allow it to settle down," Gilchrist said at the 'India Today' conclave in New Delhi today. Gilchrist, who was bought by the Hyderabad franchise of IPL, said playing for an unfamiliar team was not an issue with him as he had switched sides in domestic cricket in Australia. "I was born and bred in New South Wales. But I had to shift to Western Australia from where I got into the Australian team. IPL has financial benefits and it's only about six weeks," he said. But, the wicketkeeper-batsman said the youngsters playing IPL should guard against getting carried away with the monetary benefits and lose focus on cricket. "Any youngster looking at dollar signs and not cricket is not good. In IPL there is great money. But there should be respect for cricket. Actually, it's up to the individual." "The best way is to look at Sachin Tendulkar who has handled himself very well. For young and successful cricketers there should be a level of integrity (towards cricket)," Gilchrist said.

[eternalhope]

If he is that worried he shoudl have taken the Langer route.

[Zakhmi]

The IPL is fatafat cricket Journalist-turned politician Rajiv Shukla is better know as vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The director of Bhagwan Allah God (BAG) Films, which wife Anuradha Prasad successfully runs, Shukla has a canny sense of politics. His in-depth knowledge of the political jungle of Uttar Pradesh and networking skills in the film and cricket world has taken him places.

A Rajya Sabha member, he is also part of the Congress's media team and has a good rapport with Priyanka Vadra. His family relationship with film star Shah Rukh Khan is a matter of envy, but Shukla also has the flair to balance his rapport with two stalwarts of the Indian cricket establishment -- Sharad Pawar [images] and Arun Jaitely. In an interview with Managing Editor Sheela Bhatt, Shukla talks about the commercialization of the game in the country and how, through the Indian Premier League, the BCCI is set to brew a heady cocktail of cricket and Bollywood. Excerpts: On the auction of cricketers: Those who are criticizing the IPL auction need an explanation. They are not aware of whole concept of the IPL. If somebody follows the English Premier League, or other sports worldwide, they will realise that it is not different from the IPL. The IPL is on the lines of the EPL and there is nothing wrong in auctioning players. Not only does the actual value of the player come out, but, now, nobody can get into the league by any other means. If he is talented, and can deliver, only then these franchises will take him. It is not that if somebody recommends his name, or pushes his name, he can make it. I think the actual value of players will be arrived at this way. These tournaments are only for one-and-a-half months in April-May. The remaining time, Test series and one-day matches will go on. There is no harm in players being traded; this is nothing new. It's a worldwide practice. Why should people object when people from humble backgrounds are becoming millionaires? Most of the Indian cricketers come from lower middle class families. They rise from humble backgrounds. What prohibits the national game from making money? The game will go on. This is a win-win situation for everybody. More people will watch cricket now; hundreds of players will become millionaires now! Thirdly, infrastructure will develop. Once these league matches take place, we will need stadiums of international size. Junior cricketers will get a chance to make it to international cricket. Money is going to everybody. In name of the national game one doesn't go to Himalayas and do tapsaya for its development. Is the IPL in reaction to the Indian Cricket League? The IPL is not in response to the ICL at all. The concept of the IPL was conceived long back. Originally, it was Sharad Pawar's idea. Later, the concept was built upon by Lalit Modi. Then IMG [international Management Group] entered. There is a governing council comprising Lalit Modi, myself, Arun Jaitely, Ravi Shastri, MAK Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar [images] and Chirayu Amin. I don't think the IPL was formed in reaction to the ICL. I still maintain that there is no confrontation with the ICL. They should do their job and we are doing our own job. Will the money get you results? Without playing the IPL our cricketers are becoming millionaires, so the so-called effect of big money on humble players can't be traced to the IPL. If it [the negative impact of money] is there it should be already present. It's a myth, a misconception, that players get carried away by money. I don't know why this phobia of money is being generated. There are other sectors where money is coming and people are welcoming it. We are not taking money from the government's coffers. The corporate sector is voluntarily coming and bidding for the game. They are giving money; we are not taking public money. Players also realize that, and I want to make it very clear here that I have been manager of Indian cricket team thrice and understand the feelings and mindsets of the players as very few people in the cricket world do. The players also realize that as long as they are playing well and performing, money is going to come. If they don't, money won't come in. The players know that if they don't perform, the franchises will drop them immediately. It will take a minute to drop the players. Even the BCCI will not take any players lacking in talent. Because of television, everybody is under scrutiny. It is a short-lived career for players. It is true that the Ranji Trophy is not getting an audience, but it is continuing. Through it the junior cricket games are working well. The element of nationalism or, I should say, jingoism is absent there, so crowds are not coming to see Ranji [matches]. But through Ranji events we are able to produce these talents. Remember, Ranji [Trophy] is not 20-20. The long-term effect of the IPL will see cricket will grow manifold. A lot of people will get involved with it. It will provide employment and opportunities to junior and young players. It will be as big as football in many countries. You will get money only when you are liked by people. If the game is well-organized, if their [the player's] game is popular, then only the cricketer will get money. more...

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IPL website on April 7, BCCI portal in July IPL will launch its website on April 7, to be run by a North America-based company which will also develop a portal for the BCCI. More... IPL website on April 7, BCCI portal in July Press Trust Of India Chennai, March 26, 2008 First Published: 20:35 IST(26/3/2008) Last Updated: 20:36 IST(26/3/2008) The multi-million dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) will launch its website next month while BCCI's much awaited portal will see the light of the day in July this year. IPL will launch its website on April 7, to be run by a North America-based company which will also develop a portal for the BCCI. "BCCI/IPL has negotiated a contract with a North American based company to run and operate its portals and the minimum guarantee has been negotiated at USD 50 million over the next 10 years," IPL sources said. "There will be further revenue share of 50-50 from the first dollar earned by the Company. The IPL portal will be launched on April 7 and the BCCI portal towards July this year," the sources added. Meanwhile, BCCI's Working Committee meeting has also decided that the Board and IPL will have a 50-50 share with Bangalore franchisee United Breweries Group of the cost of the grand opening ceremony in Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18. The meeting has also approved ITC Welcome Group hotels in the eight cities where the IPL matches are to be held as official hotels for three years and Kingfisher Airlines as official airline for the same number of years. The Working Committee also decided to hire Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri as star commentators for the IPL and approved and earlier decision to award the first year of production of IPL matches to IMG.