Cricket has always been a money spinner in india but seldom has it been linked so closely to the revival of a nation’s economic spirits . The Indian Premier League (IPL) has raked in the moolah from the day it launched last year, but the 2009 edition is important not just as a sporting extravaganza bringing together the cream of cricketing talent from around the world but also as an event that will pump in much- needed money into some sectors of the cash-strapped economy.It’s no surprise then that despite the dates of the General Election clashing with the second season of IPL, efforts have been stepped up to ensure a smooth ride for the league. At the time of going to press, IPL organisers were desperately trying to salvage the tournament, by preparing yet another revised schedule, following a directive by the Home Ministry.

Industry analysts reckon that total losses for all involved in the IPL could be as much as Rs 2,000 crore in case the tournament is cancelled. What’s more, the future revenue model of the IPL could go haywire, with the format itself becoming unviable.
Source – sify.com

England cricket chiefs were furious at county clubs for hiring Australian players ahead of the Ashes.

So the prospect of Test stars like Brett Lee, Mike Hussey, Simon Katich and Shane Watson arriving early to adjust to local conditions while playing in a transplanted Indian Premier League must have been even more irksome.

Not only would the Australians have had extra time in England before the Ashes start on July 8, they would also have enjoyed the perfect warm-up for the World Twenty20 tournament in June.

The fact they won’t have that opportunity is unlikely to soften the blow of England being overlooked to host the lucrative IPL in favour of South Africa.

As IPL commissioner Lalit Modi put it: “The IPL is a big competition. We would bring around $US100 million ($A142 million) of revenue to the British economy and anybody in a recession would want to have us.”

England was the hot tip – particularly in England – to stage the second annual IPL tournament after security concerns in India prompted a search for an alternative venue in April and May.

That was before questions were raised over England’s suitability, not least because of its inclement weather.
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To a large extent, the country’s famously dodgy weather ruined its bid.

Former Proteas allrounder Shaun Pollock has welcomed the news that the Indian Professional League will play the second staging of the tournament in South Africa, but criticised the decision that teams will not be based in specific centres.

“T20 has taken off in South Africa, and the tournament will certainly raise the profile of the sport here, but our fans may struggle initially to identify with teams. In that respect, it would have been better to have franchises based in particular cities to give people time to get to know ‘their’ team,” he said.

“It will also mean, with 25 players per franchise, that guys will lead a nomadic life on the road, unable to leave their stuff at their base camp,” Pollock said.

The commissioner of the IPL, Lalit Modi, announced on Tuesday that six venues – still to be announced – would be used for the tournament, which will feature eight franchises.

He said that discussion over whether to base teams in particular venues had been “difficult and delicate”, and that it had finally been decided not to do so.

An Indian journalist covering the event said that part of the problem lay with the fact that “all the franchises want to play in Durban” because of the strong Indian support in the city. The chief executive of the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union, Cassim Docrat, agreed.

“I’ve heard very much the same thing, so perhaps to avoid dissent and unhappiness the decision has been made to rotate teams equally between all the venues,” he said.

Pollock, who is serving as an “adviser” to the Mumbai Indians’ franchise, said that the reduction of the tournament from six to five weeks would make it even tougher for the players, who would face a tough regime of playing and travelling.

Under the new schedule, 59 matches will be played in the five weeks.

The intensity of the action would also place pressure on practice facilities.

Docrat said this wouldn’t be a problem in Durban, with the nearby Kingsmead Oval being used to supplement the normal nets at Kingsmead.

Pollock also suggested that Durban should be favoured to host a semifinal and the final.

“Durban is the only city in the country with the warm weather to make it feasible to hold matches that deep into winter,” he said.

Modi said that details of the venues to be used, as well as the fixture list, would be revealed within the next two days.
Source – iol.co.za

Watson admitted the second edition of the IPL couldn’t help but lack the same dazzling atmosphere after being shifted to South Africa due to security reasons.

The Australian all-rounder believed the competition, starting on April 18, would still be well organised in South Africa but doubted it would boast the same huge crowds or fanatical interest as in India.

“I think it will definitely be slightly different,” Watson told Fox Sports.

“It’s extremely sad the IPL won’t be held in India. It is a beautiful country and the people there are absolutely fanatical about cricket.

“But it’s still going to be an amazing tournament as it was last year. *

“It’s going to be interesting to see how it’s all going to come together in a couple of weeks.”

Watson was named the competition’s best player in 2008 after starring with both the bat and the ball for the unfancied Rajasthan Royals who snared the inaugural trophy.

Now the Shane Warne-led Royals and the seven other Indian franchises will be based in different South African cities as the tournament is likely to streamlined from six weeks to five and include double-headers.

The Republic beat England to the hosting rights due to several factors, including weather, finances, television rights and the speedy issuing of more than 1000 visas.

Rain is less likely to affect matches in South Africa during the tournament period and with a dollar worth almost 10 rand it is an attractive option financially.

Watson, who was immediately recalled to the Australian one-day side after last year’s IPL, again aims to use the tournament as a springboard back into the international arena.

A strong Ashes candidate, the injury-plagued 27-year-old, who is overcoming back stress fractures, will return to the bowling crease midway through the competition.

“The IPL’s again come at the right time of my career to get back on the track,” he said.

The Queenslander also confirmed he was close to finalising a move to NSW for next season’s domestic competition for lifestyle reasons.

Watson, whose partner is Sydney-based sports presenter Lee Furlong, commuted from Sydney to Brisbane to play for the Bulls this season.
Source – news.com.au

The costliest players on the Indian Premier League roster, England’s Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff stand to lose as much as 150,000 pounds (USD 219,511 approx) due to the organisers’ decision to push back the event’s start by a week as their work has been cut to 14 days.

Pietersen, who will captain Bangalore Royal Challengers, and Andrew Flintoff, set to turn out for Chennai Super Kings, were bought for a record $1.55 million by their respective franchisees in the players’ auction.

The IPL was on Tuesday shifted to South Africa after its organisers failed to get the required security assurance from the Indian government.

England was also in the running to host the event but unpredictable weather at this time of the year in the country tilted the scales in South Africa’s favour. The league’s start was pushed back by a week to April 18 which means the England pair’s three weeks’ work has been reduced to two.

“Their pro-rata earnings will now be 300,000 pounds rather than 450,000 pounds,” ‘The Daily Telegraph’ reported.

Pietersen and Flintoff, after completing their stints with the IPL, will return to play for England against West Indies.

Pietersen and Flintoff’s pay-cut will also hurt their respective counties Hampshire and Lancashire, who are due to receive 10 per cent of their earnings. “Ideally I’d like to have played in India,” admitted Flintoff.

“It’s the Indian Premier League and you have the chance to play in front of those crowds and those venues and it’s a special place to play cricket. I’m disappointed we’re not going there but it’s still taking place and if it’s South Africa then I’m sure they’ll put on a great tournament, but I don’t think it will quite the same as if it had been in India,” he said.
Source – cricket.ndtv.com