Jaipur ODI shifted to Baroda

The battle in Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) caused damage to Jaipur ODI which was secluded to be played between India and Australia. The BCCI shifted the opening ODI in the best-of-seven serises from Pink City to Vadodara. The match was to be played on 25 October. BCCI president Shashank Manohar confirmed the news after the BCCI's 80 th Annual General Meeting. In the AGM the Board also condoled the death of former BCCI president, Raj Singh Dungarpur. "It was also decided to set up the BCCI's umpires Academy at Nagpur to train umpires," said Manohar who has commenced the second year of his three-year term as the Board's chief.

Manohar also said that the BCCI's contract with event management firm IMG, whose service was terminated leading to protest letters from seven Indian Premier League franchise owners to the Board, has been re-negotiated. "We would be paying IMG Rs 27 crore per year (as compare to Rs 43 crore in 2008 and Rs 33 crore in 2009). The deal is for ten years starting 2008," the Board chief said. Manohar also sounded a warning to the franchises by saying the Board would not tolerate any more interference in its affairs.

India heading towards to a huge total

The final clash between India and Sri Lanka in the ongoing triangular series is going to be a total entertainer. On Monday, India elected to bat and started well. In this match batting order was changed and Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were sent for the opening. They did their best and gave a good start. Dravid scored 39 runs and became a prey of Jayasurya. At that time Sachin had completed his first half century of the tournament. After Dravid, Indian captain MS Dhoni came to bat and was off the mark.

Sachin scored his century in just 97 balls. In his century, he hit eight fours. At the same time, Dhoni scored 46 runs off 53 balls which include two boundaries. India was at a comfortable stage in 35th over with 195/1 on board. If India may able to score around 300 runs, it will be in a winning situation and this is not impossible from this stage. However, Sri Lanka is a good side and can chase that kind of total easily.

Harbhajan did it again!

Only one player in the world of cricket is known for wrong reasons. Guess who? Yes, Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. This time he misbehaved with an electronic media person. It happened at the Bangalore airport today when the Indian team was to leave for the triangular series to be played in Sri Lanka. At the Airport, a camera person did touch the off-spinner and the letter pushed him away. Recently, Bajji was in trouble with his new car, Hummer. It hit the roads without number plate and fine was imposed on it by the Chandigarh Police. The Indian team will took part in a tri-nation cricket series including host, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

The Indian team will start their tour after a long time of rest. India will take on the hosts and New Zealand in the ODI event at the RPremadas stadium in Colombo from September 9-14. India had last won the final of a major One-day event on Lankan soil in 1998 and then shared the rainmarred ICC Champions Trophy with the hosts in 2002. Meanwhile, Air India came to the rescue of the Sri Lanka-bound Indian cricket team, left in a lurch after a pilots' strike crippled the services of Jet Airways which was originally supposed to take the side to the island nation for a One-day tri-series. They were supposed to fly by the Jet Airways whose services have been hit by the ongoing strike by its pilots, an Air India spokesman said.

Salman wants to owe IPL team but not up to 400 crores

Bollywood actor Salman Khan now speaks clearly about owing an Indian Premier League team. But he reported as saying that he will not bid above Rs 400 crore as rumored. In fact, he thinks that more than Rs 400 crore is too big to buy.

He speaks frankly that he had not that much of money. Interestingly, Salman is the brand ambassador for Indian football. Right now, other Bollywood stars are also learnt to have an IPL team. These include Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgan.

Bollywood King Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Shilpa Shetty and Juhi Chawla have already co-owned teams in IPL. But all are waiting to grab the title. Here we want to tell you that all the teams are earning whooping money even without winning the title.

Akram is ready to become Bowling consultant

Wasim Akram, former Paksitan skipper and medium pace bowler, wants to assist Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkota Knight Riders' as a bowling consultant than a full time coach. Although, former Indian Coach John Wright's name is way ahead of other four coaches who are listed for the new post in Shah Rukh Khan's team. Insiders sait that the Pakistani player's preference is to serve as a bowling consultant.

The third edition of the IPL is secheduled to be held in 2010 and all the teams are preparing for it. In order to improve the team performance, KKR sacked former team coach John Buchanan and is now in process to have a new one. According to sources, Wasim Akram is learnt to meet team owner Shah Rukh Khan and other members on the Kolkata Knight Riders interview panel including Sourav Ganguly.

The meeting is expected to take place early next week. Apart from Wright and Akram, other prominent coaches in the run for the assignment are Richard Pybus and Duncan Fletcher.

Dhoni can be good Bollywood actor: Kaushik

RANCHI: Stars of cricket icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni is in the seventh sky as Bollywood actor-director Satish Kaushik is of the view that Dhoni may prove a good Bollywood actor. Kaushik said that Dhoni is good-looking and photogenic face and body. It is noted that his personality also attract advertisement companies.


Kaushik was in the Dhoni's city to promote his new movie Tere Sang. He said that if Dhoni interested, a film could be possible with him. This is not the first time that cricketers foray into Bollywood. Likes of Salim Durani, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandeep Patil, Syed Kirmani and Vinod Kambli has already tried their luck in the Indian cinema but fail.


Bollywood actor-director Satish Kaushik is a well known comedian and he was begged Filmfare Best Comedian Awards for performances in Ram Lakhan and Saajan Chale Sasural. He has also directed a couple of worth-watching movies.

Fate of ICL players to be decided tomorrow

MUMBAI: The fate of Indian Premier League (ICL) players, who were not a part of official Indian cricket, will be decided on August 11. Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi will head the meeting on Tuesday.


Among the major issues, ICL players' participation in third edition of IPL which is scheduled in March-April, 2010. Right now these players are allowed to play in domestic cricket for their respective teams after their return in the main stream cricket. Modi said that in the meeting 28,000 items will be discussed.

Modi said it in the sidelines of a book release function here in which Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and diplomat Shaharyar Khan took part. The book, Shadows Across The Playing Field, was unveiled by Sachin.