Cricket fans have lauded the live coverage of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches on the Geo Super.According to a survey conducted by ‘The News,’ people of all ages watch IPL cricket matches on Geo Super channel. During match hours, cricket fans miss all other private channels.

“All credit goes to Geo Super for providing live coverage of all IPL matches,” Munir Ahmed, a cricket lover, told ‘The News’ here on Monday. People enjoy watching all matches, particularly those in which national players are participating. No other TV channel, including Pakistan Television, has taken initiative to telecast IPL matches. Only Geo Super has been telecasting IPL matches, he said.

“People could not enjoy the Pakistan-India series last time when the government imposed a ban on Geo transmission. But this time around we are enjoying the live transmission of IPL matches,” Uzma Irfan, another cricket lover, said.

She said that Geo is her favourite channel as compared to other channels in the country because its channels telecast a variety of programmes catering to all segments of society. ‘In times of high inflation, people get some relief by watching IPL matches,” she said.
Source:thenews.com.pk

Karachi (PTI): As the Pakistan Cricket Board ponders on holding its own version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad denounced the idea saying such a move would destroy the game in the country.

Miandad said the IPL is nothing but entertainment and lacks quality.

“The involvement of too much money will destroy the game of cricket. It (IPL) lacks quality and a cricketer can never get the confidence he needs as a player. Even the greatest of bowlers cannot do anything about conceding sixes and fours,” Miandad told the ‘Dawn’.

The former Pakistan coach insisted five-day cricket not twenty20 was the real test of a player’s ability as there was the latter does not require players to showcase their technique.

Miandad also felt Pakistan cricket was on a downward spiral and said the absence of quality opponents in the team’s schedule.

“One reason for this is that talented players are not being groomed properly. Also, we are not playing against high ranking teams and competing with the weaker sides which doesn’t improve your game.

“It is contesting against quality teams like Australia and India that your potential is truly put to the test But this is not the case at present,” he said.
Source: hindu.com

CHANDIGARH: A senior Punjab Police officer on Sunday lodged a complaint against Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia for allegedly publicly insulting and using derogatory language against him during Friday’s IPL match between the Punjab team and Deccan Chargers at PCA stadium at Mohali.

Mohali police chief Ranbir Singh Khatra lodged a complaint with Mohali deputy commissioner that Wadia had used “insulting” language on him.

He also alleged in the same complaint that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was also found smoking in the Long Room of the PCA stadium in an earlier IPL match.

Expressing displeasure at the treatment meted out to him by Wadia, Khatra said, “What hurt me the most is when Wadia said he didn’t want to talk to small and mean people.”

Khatra also alleged in his complaint that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was also found smoking in the Long Room of the stadium in an earlier match of the IPL held at Mohali.

Ragarding Modi, Khatra said, “I was passing by when I noticed Modi smoking and told him that this is a public place and such a behaviour is not acceptable.”

Khatra said that DDR had been registered against Modi at Mohali police station in this connection.

Narrating the incident in his complaints, Khatra alleged that Ness Wadia had meet him at the reception counter of PCA on Friday and alleged that Mohali Police was selling match tickets in black market.

Khatra said he reasoned with Wadia that there was no question of the police indulging in such an act when the stadium on that day was half empty and tickets were freely available at the ticket counter.

“I told Wadia that IPL people were also manning the entry gates. However, he launched verbal assault on me using derogatory language against the administration and police in particular causing annoyance to me in front of public,” he wrote in his complaint.

Khatra said Wadia accused him and his cops of stealing his liquor and T shirts in the previous match.

Khatra said after he asked Wadia to lodge a formal complaint of what he had said, he (Wadia) started shouting at him.

Punjab Cricket Association President I S Bindra too appeared on the scene and tried to pacify Wadia, Khatra wrote in his complaint.

Khatra said he has forwarded a copy of the complaint to Punjab DGP and state home secretary.
Source:dnaindia.com

Indian Premier League (IPL) shows India’s strength in the world of cricket. One should be extremely happy to see that our country can now dictate terms and conditions as far as cricket is concerned. This is a new turning point for sports in India..

ENTIRE WORLD is watching the events of IPL with full attention and as each day unfolds, the game is becoming more and more interesting. No cricketing country could achieve what India has achieved in cricket. English County Cricket (ECC), which has been played for many decades, could not till date, build up that much fancy and excitement, which the IPL has done in a short span of time.One cannot but feel proud when one of the finest cricketers of the world dons a t-shirt of an Indian state. It’s time when we replicate the success of the IPL in other fields also and become a true super power.

When foreign media reports that Indian cricket is dictating terms, because of the money power. It’s like adopting double standards in economic affairs; when developed countries make others to accept their terms. What is it? Is it not money power too?

IPL is giving lots of opportunity to youngsters. It will bring more and more youngsters to sports. Lets hope that the IPL is the beginning of good things in sports for India.
Source: merinews.com

New Delhi, May 23: The script for the Kolkata Knight Riders has gone horribly wrong. For some the team was among the favourites to reach the Indian Premier League final. After a failed script plagued by controversies, however, the Knight Rider are almost certainly on the sidelines.

“My performance should be reviewed, as the team has failed to qualify for the semifinals,” said John Buchanan, one of the most successful coaches in the world, on the sidelines of a promotional event for his book If better is possible here on Friday.

Since the team had performed badly over the last few matches, Buchanan felt that what he did with the team certainly had not worked and therefore his contract should be reviewed.

According to reports, it was cost cutting that led to the release of five players from the Knight Riders’ ranks. Buchanan, however has a different take on the issue.

“These five players were cut-off because they don’t have the skills to match up to the requirement in the IPL. For them to be part of the playing XI would be a huge jump. So instead, of making them travel with the team, it would be better if they went back to playing club cricket.”

The IPL was initially seen as a great opportunity for youngsters to mingle with foreign players but it hasn’t been the case with the Knight Riders.

Buchanan also emphasised that he did not want to coach a national team again as he did not have the energy any more.
Source:howrah.org