Dhoni wishes he had ‘Sholay coin’
By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Sydney, Feb. 24: Having lost the tosses consistently in the CB Series, Mahendra Singh Dhoni wishes he had a 'Sholay coin' that would get him to use the advantage of making the decision to bat or bowl.
Australia won the toss, batted and piled a huge total that proved a bit tough for the Blues. Looking at the next match, Dhoni said: "I hope to win the toss, that's an area of concern. I wish I had a coin from the Sholay movie where its heads both sides. Sri Lanka are a tricky opponent."
Despite Sunday's defeat, Dhoni was all praise for the youngsters in the team. "You need characters in the team who are playing for the team and not themselves. They are not looking for their 50s and centuries, which is very important. If we have a bunch of 16 players like that we will win more matches for sure," he said. Excerpts:
On the game: Without any significant partnerships among the top batsmen we managed to get close to 300 runs. When Gautam and Robin were batting we thought we had a chance. But it got difficult as Gautam got out. Still, Irfan batted well and Bhajji got a couple of boundaries. I think we were fortunate enough to make it a close match because we could have easily been bundled out for 200 odd runs.
On the batting: The seniors can contribute more. Specially if you see the matches we have played till now. Gautam is one batsman who has been consistent. Rohit has done well in patches and I've scored a few runs. If you look at the first five batsmen if they can contribute and put up significant partnerships among them then the lower order, me coming at five or six and Uthappa after me can really go after the bowlers. But it's very important to get the initial partnerships going.
If Viru, Sachin and Yuvraj do well, it gets easier for the batsmen to follow. But it hasn't been the story till now. We have a very important game against Sri Lanka we'd like to win that game and get into the finals rather than wait for the Sri Lanka vs Australia game.
On Sachin and Sehwag's forms: They are getting out to good balls. You cannot really do much about it. It's not like they are getting out to some rash shots or they are not taking up the responsibility. It's very important to go in with the right approach. Everything is not in your control.
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Sydney, Feb. 24: A gallant century by Gautam Gambhir and a courageous 51 by Robin Uthappa went in vain as India picked themselves up from the pits to fearlessly chase Australia’s 317 before going down by 18 runs in their penultimate game of the CB Series at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Sunday.....Complete Story
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Dhoni bags rs 6 crores
By Sundari Iyer
Mumbai, Feb. 20: Auction-eer Richard Madley could not have imagined the impact of his words on the glittering gathering at the plush Hilton Towers here on Wednesday. Neither could his vast experience at running auctions have prepared him for the frenzy that was to follow his announcement that India one-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had raked in a cool $1.5 million (Rs 6 crores) to top the charts at the auction of players for the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League.
Marking the dawn of a new era in cricket, the bid process saw the Deccan Chronicle’s Hyderabad team emerge as the most balanced of the eight outfits, with Andrew Symonds its star buy at $1.35 million (Rs 5.4 crores). The colourful Symonds will be joined by iconic Aussie wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist ($700,000), Pakistan’s explosive batsman Shahid Afridi ($675,000) in a team led by the stylish Venkatasai Laxman.
Chennai forked out the massive amount spent on Twenty20 world championship winner Dhoni, and he was joined by the likes of Australian opener Matthew Hayden ($375,000), wily Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ($600,000) and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming ($350,000).
Drawing almost as many gasps as Dhoni was Delhi’s new star, Ishant Sharma, who was snapped up by Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata for $950,000 (Rs 3.8 crores) to become the second highest paid Indian. It also means that his captain, Sourav Ganguly, will pull in excess of a million dollars, as the former India skipper is guaranteed iconic status and a guarantee of 15 per cent more than the highest paid player in his squad.
Eight franchise owners, including corporate tycoons like Mukesh Ambani and liquor baron Vijay Mallya and Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta (with partner Ness Wadia), bid for the 79 cricketers at an event that has the potential to change the face of world cricket.
Age did not seem to be a criteria either as Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya, at 38 one of the oldest on sale, drew in a bid of $975,000 (Rs 3.9 crores) from the Ambani-owned and Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai team.
Australian speedster Brett Lee went for $900,000 (Rs 3.6 crores) to Preity Zinta’s Mohali, which will be led by Yuvraj Singh. South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis sold for $900,000 (Rs 3.6 crores) to Hyderabad, Harbhajan Singh for $850,000 (Rs 3.4 crores) also to Mumbai, and West Indies opener Chris Gayle for $800,000 (Rs 3.2 crores) to Kolkata.
Delhi, to be led by Virender Sehwag, bagged retired Aussie fast bowler Glenn McGrath for a relatively modest $350,000. Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne was snapped up by Jaipur for $450,000.
The high-profile Twenty20 venture will run from April 18 to June 1 and a grand opening will be held in Bangalore.
The IPL’s five "icon" players — Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), Ganguly (Kolkata), Yuvraj (Mohali), Rahul Dravid (Bangalore) and Sehwag (Delhi) were not part of the auction but have been guaranteed 15 per cent more than the highest paid player at their franchise.
Symonds’ high price came as a surprise as he went over his base price of $250,000 by a big margin to Team Hyderabad. Symonds has indicated that he is unwilling to be a part of the Australia team scheduled to tour Pakistan in the next couple of months, which means he will be available for this year’s tournament itself.
Provided by :
By Sundari Iyer
Mumbai, Feb. 20: Auction-eer Richard Madley could not have imagined the impact of his words on the glittering gathering at the plush Hilton Towers here on Wednesday. Neither could his vast experience at running auctions have prepared him for the frenzy that was to follow his announcement that India one-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had raked in a cool $1.5 million (Rs 6 crores) to top the charts at the auction of players for the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League.
Marking the dawn of a new era in cricket, the bid process saw the Deccan Chronicle’s Hyderabad team emerge as the most balanced of the eight outfits, with Andrew Symonds its star buy at $1.35 million (Rs 5.4 crores). The colourful Symonds will be joined by iconic Aussie wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist ($700,000), Pakistan’s explosive batsman Shahid Afridi ($675,000) in a team led by the stylish Venkatasai Laxman.
Chennai forked out the massive amount spent on Twenty20 world championship winner Dhoni, and he was joined by the likes of Australian opener Matthew Hayden ($375,000), wily Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ($600,000) and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming ($350,000).
Drawing almost as many gasps as Dhoni was Delhi’s new star, Ishant Sharma, who was snapped up by Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata for $950,000 (Rs 3.8 crores) to become the second highest paid Indian. It also means that his captain, Sourav Ganguly, will pull in excess of a million dollars, as the former India skipper is guaranteed iconic status and a guarantee of 15 per cent more than the highest paid player in his squad.
Eight franchise owners, including corporate tycoons like Mukesh Ambani and liquor baron Vijay Mallya and Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta (with partner Ness Wadia), bid for the 79 cricketers at an event that has the potential to change the face of world cricket.
Age did not seem to be a criteria either as Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya, at 38 one of the oldest on sale, drew in a bid of $975,000 (Rs 3.9 crores) from the Ambani-owned and Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai team.
Australian speedster Brett Lee went for $900,000 (Rs 3.6 crores) to Preity Zinta’s Mohali, which will be led by Yuvraj Singh. South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis sold for $900,000 (Rs 3.6 crores) to Hyderabad, Harbhajan Singh for $850,000 (Rs 3.4 crores) also to Mumbai, and West Indies opener Chris Gayle for $800,000 (Rs 3.2 crores) to Kolkata.
Delhi, to be led by Virender Sehwag, bagged retired Aussie fast bowler Glenn McGrath for a relatively modest $350,000. Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne was snapped up by Jaipur for $450,000.
The high-profile Twenty20 venture will run from April 18 to June 1 and a grand opening will be held in Bangalore.
The IPL’s five "icon" players — Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), Ganguly (Kolkata), Yuvraj (Mohali), Rahul Dravid (Bangalore) and Sehwag (Delhi) were not part of the auction but have been guaranteed 15 per cent more than the highest paid player at their franchise.
Symonds’ high price came as a surprise as he went over his base price of $250,000 by a big margin to Team Hyderabad. Symonds has indicated that he is unwilling to be a part of the Australia team scheduled to tour Pakistan in the next couple of months, which means he will be available for this year’s tournament itself.
Provided by :
Mumbai, Feb. 20: Auction-eer Richard Madley could not have imagined the impact of his words on the glittering gathering at the plush Hilton Towers here on Wednesday. Neither could his vast experience at running auctions have prepared him for the frenzy that was to follow his announcement that India one-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had raked in a cool $1.5 million (Rs 6 crores) to top the charts at the auction of players for the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League.....Complete Story
Monday, February 18, 2008
Earlier in the week, Akhtar, who has shown a penchant for controversies since bursting onto the international stage with his express pace, stirred another storm in Pakistan after terming the Pentangular Cup in the country as Grade 'B' cricket.
He faces a life ban following his latest outburst which evoked anger among top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
'This time he has gone too far. We had already issued a notice to him to explain his earlier statements against the policies of the Board. Now he will face more punitive action,' a senior PCB official said on condition of anonymity.
He made it clear that in the next few days, the Board will decide on banning Akhtar from the ongoing Pentangular Cup.
Akhtar had criticised the standard of the tournament and lashed out at the Board for providing dead Kookaburra balls and a flat pitch for the Federal Areas match against Punjab.
The official said Akhtar was already under a one-year probation period during which, if he indulged in any misconduct, he could face an automatic life ban.
Photograph: Arun Patil
He faces a life ban following his latest outburst which evoked anger among top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
'This time he has gone too far. We had already issued a notice to him to explain his earlier statements against the policies of the Board. Now he will face more punitive action,' a senior PCB official said on condition of anonymity.
He made it clear that in the next few days, the Board will decide on banning Akhtar from the ongoing Pentangular Cup.
Akhtar had criticised the standard of the tournament and lashed out at the Board for providing dead Kookaburra balls and a flat pitch for the Federal Areas match against Punjab.
The official said Akhtar was already under a one-year probation period during which, if he indulged in any misconduct, he could face an automatic life ban.
Photograph: Arun Patil
The eight franchises will participate in a high-profile IPL 'auction' in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Shoaib's agent, David Ligertwood, expressed confidence that the pace ace would be cleared to play in the IPL.
"This is an exciting week for Shoaib and all other players contracted to the IPL. We have just agreed on the players contract which Shoaib and all other players will sign in the next 48 hours. We are now waiting to find out on Wednesday which city and franchise Shoaib will be engaged with."
Shoaib's agent, David Ligertwood, expressed confidence that the pace ace would be cleared to play in the IPL.
"This is an exciting week for Shoaib and all other players contracted to the IPL. We have just agreed on the players contract which Shoaib and all other players will sign in the next 48 hours. We are now waiting to find out on Wednesday which city and franchise Shoaib will be engaged with."
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