Chennai Super Kings woes continue as Jacob Oram, the key all-rounder of the team has been ruled out of the entire Indian Premier League III. Oram is suffering from tendon tear and undergoing a treatment. He has been advised by the doctors to be in rest for one month.
Shane Warne feels that the return of IPL to India from South Africa would be a huge advantage for IPL 2008 champions, Rajasthan Royals. He told in an interview that Indian condition suits Rajasthan Royals’ cricketer’s way of playing the game. It is exciting for everyone in Rajasthan Royal to come back to India, he added.
IPL Commissioner told that recent snubbing of Pakistani cricketers from the recently concluded auction was suggestive of doors being shut for them. He revealed that they can still come in to the cash-rich tournament if some players of the franchisees opt or drop out of the team.
IPL third edition’s costliest player Kieron Pollard who was bought by Mumbai Indians for $750,000 is now all set to share the dressing room with the world’s best batsman Sachin Tendulkar, which is a real bonanza.
Hard hitting West Indian alrounder Kieron Pollard who came to limelight after champions T20 league while played for Trinidad & Tobacco has become the most expensive player in the Indian Premier League third edition. He has attracted undisclosed price of $750,000 this season for Mumbai Indians.
The much awaited IPL 3 auction to be held on January 19th would be dominated by the cricketers from Australia, South Africa and Pakistan as they numbered half of the total cricketers involved in the auction. IPL organizing committee has shortlisted 66 cricketers from the eight cricket playing nations out of which eleven cricketers each from Australia, South Africa and Pakistan are participating.
When asked about Yuvraj’s take on personal split between co-owners Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia, Srivatsa played it down by saying it was nothing to do with that matter while rubbishing that foreign players were given preference in the tournament. He replied that no international boundaries are looked upon in selecting the team.
Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle who has earlier been listed in the IPL3 auction to be held on January 19 has opted out of the cash rich tournament to be available for his country afresh. He wanted to be available for the national selectors fit and fresh.
Lalit Modi IPL commissioner has told that eight English cricketers would not be missed in IPL 3 (Indian Premier League) as there are too many players available for only few spots. Modi revealed that fresh English players other than Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen were missing because ECB wants them to play in early domestic season. Even talks between English Cricket Board and Indian Boards ended in futile.
There were debates happening about cricketers, compromising their national duty and curbing their test appearances only to make them available for lucrative IPL T20 tournament. Cricketer’s associations were even compelling ICC to create window for IPL. Cricketers are taking every step to keep them injury-free to take part in IPL. Few cricketers were even ready to end their international career’s much early to avail themselves for IPL.
One cricketer from Australia is acting different from other international players. He is none other than Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. He has refused to accept IPL offer to take play for his country for the third time in a row. His manager Sam Halvorsen has told that Johnson is putting money behind only to play for Australia. By his decision, he might end up losing a huge 200,000 dollars. He could have obviously become most sought player since he was the ICC’s cricketer of the year.
This is welcome decision that Johnson opted for representing Australia over lucrative. By this he has set a precedent for other players who are ready to finish their careers abruptly for IPL. But it is doubtful whether cricketers would follow Johnson. So cricketing boards must understand and should work on FTP in such a way that it does not conflict between international and IPL T20 matches. This not only avoids rift between the boards and the players, it will also avoid players fatigue and injuries.
