News , Views and More

A most unexpected and tricky coach selection by Selection Committee comprising of Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and also BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah in New Delhi on Monday. Most probably, Gary Kirsten, a talented South African batsman, will be the successor of Greg Chappell as a Indian Cricket coach.

The 40-year-old left-handed batsman enjoyed a great playing career, playing in 101 Tests and 185 one-day internationals, before retiring in 2004. No doubts, he is one of the most talented consistent stout batsman but limited experience as a coach.

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Two great players in Tennis - one holding 14 Grand Slams and other with 12. One retired back in 2002 and other is at highest peak of his career. One holding the record of 14 Grand Slam titles and other moving towards it at pace. Pete Sampras and Roger Federer - without doubt two of the greatest tennis players the world has ever seen.

Last week, they met each other in three exhibition matches across Asia.  Federer, being at peak of his career, took Sampras in straight sets for first game at Seoul. Next match at Kuala Lumpur was the tough one with Sampras showing some reluctance but Federer again edge the Sampras. Third and the last one at Macau, was the most interesting one with Sampras shocked Federer in straight sets.

US legend proved that age is no bar for any person. But no doubt, both are the great players, one had ruled the game in 90s and other is ruling the game at present.

BCCI has gagged Shahrukh for promoting Om Shanti Om and has asked him not to attend matches . This happened because of an interview with Ramiz Raja where he talked about the movie.

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As depicted in ongoing first test match at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, this test series will be one of the most exciting series in a cricket events. Where in India, first time under Kumble guidance, wants to keep up with their One day winning trend. Other hand, Pakistan will try to take back home some victorious taste.

Till now, this 1st test match is behaving like a pendulum. Neither of the teams is able to maintain a upper hand. India started well this morning with Laxman and Kumble trying to make partnership & enhance the India’s 1st inning lead. But suddenly, after Kumble dismissal, tail was wrapped up within 15 runs keeping 45 runs lead for the 1st inning.

Pakistan fought back and opener Salman Butt gave solid foundation to Pakistan with its contribution of 67runs having 1st wicket partnership of 71runs with Yasir Hameed. As Pakistan was building their innings, India bowlers strike again and break the top order batting line in quick succession. Spinners Harbhajan and Kumble share 5 top wicket between them.

Another twist towards end of the day, when Kamran Akmal and Misbah Ul-Haq show some reluctance and stand for 51 runs partnership.

This game is open for both the teams and tomorrow 4th day will be crucial for this match and series.

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This is a working sopcast for India Pakistan Cricket test match , enjoy and if you find more of them please add in the comment section .

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When Zee launched Indian Cricket League website they had something which BCCI didn’t had , that is having a website but today when I went to that website it was down and showing a beautiful page which said domain default page.

ICL website was launched to provide a window for many aspirants to apply for ICL so I would expect that it will come up sooner.

ICL is getting started sooner and this is not the type of problem I would imagine as they already have handful of issues from grounds not available to BCCI threats.

Check here http://indiancricketleague.in/

Yuvraj Singh is not selected for the first test match between India and Pakistan at Delhi . Yuvraj Singh must be wondering what he should be doing after fantastic series against Pakistan where he got man of the series and a dream run in 20-20 world cup.

With all the talk of young Vs seniors I was expecting him to be in the squad as Yuvraj Singh is the only young (or may be not so young ) contender who can replace anyone in middle order on current form .Looks like the policy of playing young is followed in one day cricket only or to humiliate seniors or to settle some points with the seniors.

As a passing comment Yuvi is should concentrating on bowling or on wicket keeping as for batting goes I don’t think he can be do any better then this.

T20 in India and now IPL. Cricket is getting to new stages in India.  Someone/Something (may be ICL) has galvanised the long complacent Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) into action and they launched the Indian Premier League (IPL), severely denting the ambitious plans of the rival Indian Cricket League. 44-days long T20 and all the major players worldwide, differences to few months ago T20 world cup event are geographical location and competing team then countries.

Although this approach is new to cricket, but this concept is not new to the world of sports, its a famous phenomenon for football. English premier league and Primera Liga are best examples. If IPL can stand on expectations , it will be a win-win situation for all - be it players, new comers, sponsors, spectators, board or GAME as a whole. New comer will get a platform to come and show their talent, bringing the best for talent. Board will get more funds to raise the standard of game. Existing players can get really heavy cheques, spectators can enjoy better game and better standards with improved facilities and sponsors can reap real big money.

World is aware of importance and criticality of event to game hence so many people like business tycoon Vijay Mallaya, Anil Ambani, Hollywood actor Russel Crowe, Bollywood actor Sharukh Khan, cousin of former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe, England-based Lord Swaraj Paul are among prominent bidders (courtesy - NDTV).

Concerns are whether event can generate same competitive edge as say a Test or a one-day match between two countries.  Can it generate same excitement as Pak-India series or ashes series? Can it stand to a expectations and deliver it?

It will be more of wait and watch. But hoping to see some good franchises coming up.

5ODI series is levelled by nail bitten victory of Pakistan in 2nd ODI at Mohali. Teams are geared up again head to head for another exciting encounter at Kanpur.

As per pitch curator, it will be a batting paradise with expectation of highest ever score in this ground tomorrow. Although score of more than 300 will be achievable, but keeping in mind, even a massive score of 321 did not prove defendable in the 2nd ODI at Mohali. Moreover with Sachin’s jinx of 90’s following him and Younis exciting century in last game will make it tougher for India and momentum to Pakistan. Breaking through in the middle overs will be the key for both team. Lesson from last match, India may just want the option of another bowler. Pakistan, on the other hand, may not want to change a winning combination. Both team need to be on toes in every part of this game - be it batting, bowling, fielding or toss :).

As far as I am concerned, I would like to see both teams demonstrating the best of them and let the best emerge as winner.

The action starts at 09:00 IST. Looking forward for it !!
Pakistan (From): Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal(w), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik(c), Misbah Ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Fawad Alam, Imran Nazir, Yasir Hameed
India (From): Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Murali Kartik, Praveen Kumar, Rohit Sharma, S Sreesanth

Remember the famous advertisement of Master card , which goes like “There is something money can’t buy for everything else there is Mastercard” . Well if you are BCCI then “something” should include Indian cricket team test captain along with a full time coach.

Seems like it has become a fashion for everyone to reject any position which BCCI has to offer , earlier there was a fiasco on the coach and now with Sachin refusing to take over the rein of test captaincy (as some media reports have suggested this is because he is not happy with BCCI handling seniors ) BCCI is becoming a laughing stock.

Why BCCI is not able to find a coach and a test captain ? Answer could be in the way of there functioning , when you treat one of the best player (read Dravid) that India has produce so shabbily , you dont let the winners(read T20 team) hog the limelight after winning in there felicitation ceremony and keep pressurizing world class players in the pretext of giving opportunity to youngsters then who wants to work with you .

Grow up BCCI and do what you are good at that is administration and don’t give sound bites to press against seniors hound them.