The list of commentators for season two of IPL is as follows: Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, L Sivaramakrishnan, Arun Lal, Ramiz Raja, Pommie Mbangwa, Kepler Wessels, Robin Jackman, Danny Morrison, Ranjit Fernando, Alastair Campbell, Simon Doull, Abbas Ali Baig, Greg Blewett, Jeremey Coney .

Asked his expectations for Indian fans to travel to South Africa, Percy Dubash who handles IPL publicity said: “The Rainbow Nation is a very popular tourism destination and we are certain that a large number of Indians and non-resident Indians would also visit the country for IPL. The league is immensely popular with a huge global fan-base. The fact that the league also coincides with summer holidays in India, given the end of the academic year, also bodes well for an influx of Indian tourists.”

Talking about the challenge of hosting IPL out of its natural home, Dubash said that filling the stadia with South African and Indian fans will be one of the biggest challenges. “However, the success of the Indian Premier League has been attributable to an amalgam of multiple factors but most importantly it was due to the fact that the on-field action was truly world class,” he remarked. “That is the main catalyst behind the unprecedented success of the Indian Premier League. In most developed economies of the world, live sports play a very integral part of the family experience, be it an NBA game or an English Premier League game on weekdays or over weekends.

“In a similar vein, I think the void of live entertainment was more than adequately filled by the Indian Premier League as it combined some of the best cricket talent in the world, together with the next generation of Indian talent all packaged into a highly entertaining three-hour roller-coaster of fun, excitement, and adrenalin-packed cricket action. That is exactly the reason the Indian Premier League managed to capture the imagination of an entire nation, and more importantly the world.”

Season two will also have the added attraction of seeing some prodigious talent the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and J P Duminy. That aside, the new venues will further enhance the fan base for the league.

“We are satisfied that we have created a global cricketing entertainment product, which is generating its strength from the millions of fans and sponsors alike and that is the success of the DLF Indian Premier League,” added Dubash.“IPL’s success has provided monetary rewards apart from honour and pride, not only for the players, the BCCI and the cricketing fraternity. At modest estimates, the IPL involves around a total of US $ 2.5-billion in terms of overall revenue. But the BCCI has stressed from the very beginning that the monies earned through the IPL will be ploughed back into the game. The money will be used to build infrastructure for cricket and will be utilised to help the game progress and develop at the grass roots level.”
Source – newsonline.co.za

Two years ago, a multiplex in Mumbai’s hip suburb Versova decided to screen the T20 World Cup final between India and Pakistan. The logistics
were all worked out in just 48 hours. This involved hiring a projector and getting the support of the local cable network.

Devang Sampat, senior vice-president, Cinemax, decided to devote four of his six screens — two of these were the high-end Red Lounge ones. The total capacity was 1,000 seats. It was a complete sellout and, in the process, two corporate bookings from Citibank and Provogue were clinched. At a handy Rs 500 a seat, he added a cool Rs 5 lakh to his kitty after three hours.

Of course the price came with the incentive of unlimited beer. “This was a one-off thing and was after all an India-Pakistan final. The response was bound to be good,” says Sampat candidly.

With the IPL2 now shifting to South Africa, the theatres offer the next best option to a live experience. There is also a tangible business opportunity for distributors and theatres — all this comes with great viewing experience for the cricket fans. The IPL had recognised this and put in a tender for the same.

The multiplex players realise the potential that can be tapped. Now, with circumstances putting the whole game into a spin, the last date for submitting the tender was extended from March 16 by two weeks. The initial reaction from industry, both the advertising and film industries, for these rights was positive with names like UTV, Eros, UFO, PVR, Group M and WSG all heard to be in the fray.

Very soon, most lost interest. One of the main reasons could be the sum that had to be paid as minimum guarantee to IPL worked out to be uneconomical with talks of rights being given only for a year making it even more unviable. Figures being quoted for the same ranged between Rs 25-50 crore.
Source – economictimes.indiatimes.com

Yesterday’s announcement by John Buchanan on the usage of multiple captains by Kolkata Knight Riders this season is a massive gamble that threatens to derail their campaign. Aside from the uncertainty and changes in strategy from match to match due to a revolving door, the policy threatens to unleash infighting not seen in Indian cricket since the Chappell-Ganguly debacle three years ago.

As Sourav Ganguly sat next too Buchanan at the press conference, he seemed distinctly uneasy, and when asked whether he was upset by the new policy, he skirted around the question before Buchanan interjected, quipping “Of course he will be upset. He is the Prince of Kolkata.”

Ganguly then broke into laughter, but the body language looked distinctly worrying. With two strongly minded individuals in the franchise, it could herald rather stormy times for the Bengal-base outfit.

Buchanan has never been a coach in the serene and low-key mould of a Gary Kirsten or John Wright. On the contrary, he is full of ideas and innovation, whatever one might think of them. And on that front, trouble lurks. Like Greg Chappell, Buchanan can be frank, even to the point of being publically undiplomatic, and is unlikely to defer on an issue in order to placate superstar players.

After the famed Kolkata Test of 2001, when VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted for an entire day to pull India out of certain defeat, Buchanan publicly questioned Shane Warne’s fitness and said that his weight was a factor as Australia’s attack wilted in the same heat. Nor was he perturbed by Warne’s anger and defiance when called into question. Last year, having retired from international cricket, Warne lampooned Buchanan and his methods, claiming that he was living in “La-La Land”. In a radio interview soon after, Buchanan laughed and joked about the incident. Buchanan was never put off by Warne’s vehement opposition, and it’s unlikely that he’ll bend to Ganguly either, at least without a monumental fight.

Like Chappell and the vast majority of Australians, Buchanan places quite a lot of emphasis on fielding, something which Ganguly famously disregarded. Sooner or later, especially in the most frenetic of formats, this will become a source of added tension, as it did when Chappell brought a flock of youngsters into the ODI team in late-2005.

And on that occasion, one of the most chaotic periods in recent cricket history broke out. Already sensing his demise, the nervous Ganguly played politics within the team, shuffling the batting order around and instilling uncertainty into his teammates. Before the dispute with Chappell was brought into the public, Laxman scored a century against Zimbabwe and muttered about negative vibes from within the team. Given what transpired, it’s easy to see who he was referring to. With Ganguly looking over his shoulder again, something that is accentuated by his retirement from first-class cricket and the entailing uncertainty over his form, he could easily revert to his old behaviour and destabilise a team that is already looking weak in the absence of Umar Gul.

It’s something that the Knight Riders could well do without. Perhaps it is the prelude to Ganguly’s departure. Whatever the outcome, the issue needs to be resolved quickly and decisively.

Source – blogs.livemint.com

Here is the schedule for IPL-2009.
April 2009

Sat 18
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 1st match – Rajasthan Royals v Bangalore Royal Challengers Newlands, Cape Town
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 2nd match – Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians Newlands, Cape Town

Sun 19
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 3rd match – Kolkata Knight Riders v Deccan Chargers Newlands, Cape Town
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 4th match – Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab Newlands, Cape Town

Mon 20
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 5th match – Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super Kings St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

Tue 21
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 6th match – Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians Kingsmead, Durban
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 7th match – Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab Kingsmead, Durban

Wed 22
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 8th match – Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings Kingsmead, Durban
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 9th match – Bangalore Royal Challengers v Deccan Chargers Kingsmead, Durban

Thu 23
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 10th match – Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

Fri 24
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 11th match – Kings XI Punjab v Bangalore Royal Challengers New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sat 25
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 12th match – Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings Newlands, Cape Town
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 13th match – Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians Kingsmead, Durban

Sun 26
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 14th match – Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab Newlands, Cape Town
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 15th match – Bangalore Royal Challengers v Delhi Daredevils St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

Mon 27
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 16th match – Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians Newlands, Cape Town
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 17th match – Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers Kingsmead, Durban

Tue 28
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 19th match – Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals SuperSport Park, Centurion

Wed 29
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 18th match – Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab Kingsmead, Durban
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 20th match – Kolkata Knight Riders v Bangalore Royal Challengers Kingsmead, Durban

Thu 30
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 21st match – Delhi Daredevils v Deccan Chargers SuperSport Park, Centurion
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 22nd match – Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings SuperSport Park, Centurion

May 2009

Fri 1
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 23rd match – Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab Buffalo Park, East London
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 24th match – Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders Kingsmead, Durban

Sat 2
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 25th match – Rajasthan Royals v Deccan Chargers New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 26th match – Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

Sun 3
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 27th match – Mumbai Indians v Bangalore Royal Challengers Kingsmead, Durban
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 28th match – Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders Buffalo Park, East London

Mon 4
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 29th match – Deccan Chargers v Chennai Super Kings St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

Tue 5
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 30th match – Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders Kingsmead, Durban
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 31st match – Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals Kingsmead, Durban

Wed 6
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 32nd match – Mumbai Indians v Deccan Chargers SuperSport Park, Centurion

Thu 7
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 33rd match – Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings SuperSport Park, Centurion
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 34th match – Bangalore Royal Challengers v Rajasthan Royals SuperSport Park, Centurion

Fri 8
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 35th match – Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians Buffalo Park, East London

Sat 9
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 36th match – Deccan Chargers v Kings XI Punjab OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 37th match – Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

Sun 10
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 38th match – Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils Buffalo Park, East London
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 39th match – Bangalore Royal Challengers v Mumbai Indians New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Mon 11
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 40th match – Deccan Chargers v Rajasthan Royals OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein

Tue 12
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 41st match – Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kolkata Knight Riders SuperSport Park, Centurion
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 42nd match – Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians SuperSport Park, Centurion

Wed 13
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 43rd match – Deccan Chargers v Delhi Daredevils Kingsmead, Durban

Thu 14
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 44th match – Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals Kingsmead, Durban
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 45th match – Chennai Super Kings v Bangalore Royal Challengers Kingsmead, Durban

Fri 15
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 46th match – Kings XI Punjab v Deccan Chargers De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley

Sat 16
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 47th match – Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 48th match – Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

Sun 17
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 49th match – Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 50th match – Kings XI Punjab v Deccan Chargers New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Mon 18
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 51st match – Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders SuperSport Park, Centurion

Tue 19
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 52nd match – Delhi Daredevils v Bangalore Royal Challengers New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Wed 20
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 53rd match – Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab Kingsmead, Durban
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 54th match – Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders Kingsmead, Durban

Thu 21
12:30 local, 10:30 GMT 55th match – Deccan Chargers v Bangalore Royal Challengers SuperSport Park, Centurion
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 56th match – Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils SuperSport Park, Centurion

Fri 22
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 1st Semi-Final – TBC v TBC SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sat 23
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT 2nd Semi-Final – TBC v TBC New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Sun 24
16:30 local, 14:30 GMT Final – TBC v TBC New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

The IPL extravaganza looks set to move to South Africa, with barely a reproving glance for its own country. India has been sized up and found wanting by the BCCI. What was a small scheduling problem has been blown up to dramatic dimensions, because of the swollen egos of our Cricket administrators and their all-or-nothing gambits.

The question is not whether the Indian Premier League should play out in some corner of a foreign field — taking it out of India could indeed be a chance to imprint the game on global consciousness. The issue is not the IPL brand, or even cricket, but the India brand. Four states had acknowledged their problems hosting the games on the exact days that the IPL demanded. By refusing to accommodate even a tiny bit and reschedule the matches around the entirely expected Indian election (whether out of ego or their own contractual obligations), the IPL establishment has fostered the impression that India is simply incapable of chewing gum and walking a straight line — ensuring security for the cricket matches and conducting its general election. Meanwhile, South Africa has offered the League safe haven, despite the fact that it too is heading for polls in April. So what’s the takeaway for the international audience? That the IPL is too hot for India to handle, for all its emerging power pretensions. Providing security is, after all, the ancient raison d’etre of a state, above all else. In the words of a bitter Indian cricket fan, “Should all Indian citizens migrate en masse to England and South Africa since the state cannot provide us security?” And even reasonable voices have read the incident as the Indian state’s failure to keep up appearances. Maybe we should just flop down and admit our abject failure. After all, even the Indian Parliament isn’t impregnable — why don’t we just shift our sessions to the House of Commons? The Lok Sabha channel can beam back the deliberations. Indian movie stars, we know are hot stuff everywhere — let’s just move the entire industry abroad so that better equipped, more responsible countries can bask in their aura. India can watch it all on television. We don’t deserve better, if the BCCI is to be believed.
Source – indianexpress.com