Former West Indies captain Lara aims to play in 2011 IPL

[Sachinism]

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Former West Indian captain Brian Lara wants to take part in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) next year after ending his three-year retirement from cricket recently. Lara, 41, a former Wisden Cricketer of the Year and one of the finest batsman to play the game, retired from all forms of cricket after the 2007 World Cup in West Indies but returned in October to play in the Zimbabwe Twenty20 league. "If I was to give myself a chance to play in the IPL, then I need to start now," Lara told Cricinfo on Friday. "I am not going to say that I am ready for the IPL. The option is around the corner, and I have put my name in the hat." The 2011 IPL season will begin in April with an auction for new players scheduled for Jan 8 and 9 in Mumbai and Lara, who scored 11,953 runs in 131 test matches at an average of over 52, would attract the interest of most of the eight teams. "I need to play cricket regularly from now till then to get fit and capable of doing justice to the game and to my form in such a highly competitive league." Lara has been playing with Zimbabwean side Southern Rocks after he said he failed to negotiate a deal with English county Surrey. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101203/india_nm/india533245 This article was at the top on Digg.com :cantstop:

[DomainK]

wow....top on digg? I find it funny when news stories try to introduce someone like Lara. Brian Lara would have been more than enough for anyone who could be interested in the story. Former West India captain? Lara is much more than a "former west Indian captain". In fact, his captaincy is not one the main reasons why he is famous.

[kabira]

There won't be IPL4.

[maniac]

Lara for Deccan chargers:protest:

[maniac]

There won't be IPL4.

Yup you are right. we will not have any pakistani players again so you guys may not get to watch it unfortunately.

[Sachin=GOD]

Lara and Sachin together at MI :pray::pray:

[ludhianvi]

yeah, he played for Mumbai Champs in ICL. Here, I think he is more likely looking to go the route of Fleming/Pollock. Perhaps play a few games and/or straight to a coaching role.

[Ram]

He might have had a chance had there been 10 teams.. But with the possibility of just 7 teams for IPL 2011, it will be even difficult to accommodate all the players who played last year, let alone add new ones. Plus, Lara maybe an unqualified great of yesteryears, but surely, the dude’s probably past it by now. T20 isnt the game for barely mobile senior citizens.

[Sachin=GOD]

^if he wants to play then most teams will be ready to pay any amount for him thats for sure.

[DomainK]

He might have had a chance had there been 10 teams.. But with the possibility of just 7 teams for IPL 2011, it will be even difficult to accommodate all the players who played last year, let alone add new ones. Plus, Lara maybe an unqualified great of yesteryears, but surely, the dude’s probably past it by now. T20 isnt the game for barely mobile senior citizens.

On the contrary, someone as popular as Lara, even if he is past it now (who cares about cricket in IPL anyways), will get a berth if he wants a berth. Imagine the hype of Sachin vs Lara again or Murali vs Lara again.

[Ram]

On the contrary' date=' someone as popular as Lara, even if he is past it now (who cares about cricket in IPL anyways), will get a berth if he wants a berth. Imagine the hype of Sachin vs Lara again or Murali vs Lara again.[/quote'] Dude, he probably cant play, bottom line. Picking Lara just for his name is like marrying a dude with a dozen degrees and six-figure salary. It looks great in the wedding card and the photo album, but once the marriage is over, if he’s a jerk, you’re effed for life. Even if Lara is picked, all the hype is only till the first ball is bowled. If he fails afterwards, which he probably will, there’s no way back. Sure, its great to have the brand of Lara associated with your franchize, but the owners want their teams to win as well. Someone like Shah Rukh picked his squad for all sorts of political reasons and look what happened to KKR? If you manipulate your squad selection for reasons other than cricketking, chances are you’ll end up paying a heavy price. Lara was a failure ICL, which was of significantly lower quality, 3 years ago! You think he can succeed in IPL in 2011?

[maniac]

Lara is still a crowd puller.Even if he has past his prime,people will still pay to watch Lara in action than proven T20 stars like Eoin Morgan,Suresh Raina,David Warner,Umar Akmal

[maniac]

Dude, he probably cant play, bottom line. Picking Lara just for his name is like marrying a dude with a dozen degrees and six-figure salary. It looks great in the wedding card and the photo album, but once the marriage is over, if he’s a jerk, you’re effed for life. Even if Lara is picked, all the hype is only till the first ball is bowled. If he fails afterwards, which he probably will, there’s no way back. Sure, its great to have the brand of Lara associated with your franchize, but the owners want their teams to win as well. Someone like Shah Rukh picked his squad for all sorts of political reasons and look what happened to KKR? If you manipulate your squad selection for reasons other than cricketking, chances are you’ll end up paying a heavy price. Lara was a failure ICL, which was of significantly lower quality, 3 years ago! You think he can succeed in IPL in 2011?

As I said earlier,the franchises are run by profit-hungry corporates.Lara is definetely one of the biggest money spinners than any of the current younger stars who are currently considered to be the best T20 players.

[Ram]

As I said earlier' date='the franchises are run by profit-hungry corporates.Lara is definetely one of the biggest money spinners than any of the current younger stars who are currently considered to be the best T20 players.[/quote'] So, he played in ICL in 2006. How do you think that worked out for them then?

[Sachin=GOD]

Dude' date='[b'] he probably cant play, bottom line.

He can certainly play, bottom line.

[maniac]

So, he played in ICL in 2006. How do you think that worked out for them then?

We all know how well ICL as a brand took off.It's like saying that all brands endorsed by a certain celebrity wll be equally succsesful. Lara in ICL was along with a few retired legends,washed up and average cricketers.That does not have the same feel of Lara playing with the current best and who's who of cricket. All I am saying is adding Brian Lara to the IPL with all the hype it generates is all together at a different level.IPL is more for the casual fan like kids,housewifes than the pure cricket enthusiast.In the past two decades you will not find a bigger name than Brian Lara who will appeal more to the casual fan than anyone else who has not played IPL yet.

[Ram]

He can certainly play' date=' bottom line.[/quote'] Just like he did ICL, 3 years ago?

We all know how well ICL as a brand took off.It's like saying that all brands endorsed by a certain celebrity wll be equally succsesful. Lara in ICL was along with a few retired legends,washed up and average cricketers.That does not have the same feel of Lara playing with the current best and who's who of cricket. All I am saying is adding Brian Lara to the IPL with all the hype it generates is all together at a different level.IPL is more for the casual fan like kids,housewifes than the pure cricket enthusiast.In the past two decades you will not find a bigger name than Brian Lara who will appeal more to the casual fan than anyone else who has not played IPL yet.

It is quite obvious that it is your opinion that Lara the cricketer will attaract massive droves of people just by his name even now. I don’t agree with it, but I there’s no point in me argue over opinions. We can only debate facts and realities, not perceptions and opinions.

[Mamu]

I think --- the Franchise Owners -- smartened up and are out to do real real business by getting guys and paying them for what they can offer on the field , rather than what their name can offer. So I really do not see how Lara can be added to any franchise at this stage. When a dumb f$$k like King Gay Khan can dump Sourav in his backyard , quite clearly they mean business. It does not matter what name tag you are wearing, after all it all depends on what can deliver on the field. Watch out for Laxman and Dravids price tags take a nose dive.

[Jersey #10]

Sachin and Lara in the same team :yay:

[kabira]

Yup you are right. we will not have any pakistani players again so you guys may not get to watch it unfortunately.

WTF, it seems you only see Green, don't you. You are new here and abuse veterans....