Mumbai (PTI): An arbiter on Saturday passed an interim order restraining Pakistani player Mohammad Yousuf from participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL), an Indian Cricket League (ICL) lawyer said.”Justice (retd) Dr B P Saraf passed an interim order restraining Yousuf from participating in IPL in any manner,” said ICL’s lawyer Hitesh Jain.Jain said now there would be a final hearing, which is likely to commence in July.
Yousuf and ICL are caught up in legal wrangle, as the Essel Group-bankrolled ICL alleged that the player breached his earlier contract with them and signed up for the IPL.The dispute then landed before arbiter Dr Saraf who, on December 15 last year, restrained Yousuf from playing for any rival league till further orders.Though Yousuf signed up for IPL, he was not picked up by any of the IPL franchise teams.
Advocate Jain said Saturday’s order was a first of its kind in Indian sports. “It is significant for IPL too,” the ICL laywer said.At this stage, no penalty has been imposed on Yousuf, but the arbiter may contemplate such action at the time of the final decision, he added.
NEW DELHI: Lights, camera, action. Edge-of-the-seat thrills with sound effects, an item number and a Shah Rukh Khan guest appearance thrown in. No, it’s not a Bollywood blockbuster or a TV serial that is pulling in eyeballs. In the age of reality TV, IPL’s Twenty20 bonanza is the new entertainment.
The new cricket format is obviously packing a big punch with viewers, women in particular. TV audiences, much like those who are watching action at the stadia, seem to be lapping up the big glitzy shows under floodlights every evening. Cricket is at the centre of the action, but it is part of a package with other elements that are almost as essential.
Siddhartha Mukherjee, TAM’s vice-president (communications), feels the new format has proved its across-the-board appeal to audiences beyond sports lovers.”People are not watching IPL just for cricket. It is all-round entertainment with film stars, cheerleaders and also some great cricket,” he said. Whether it is Akshay Kumar rappelling across Ferozeshah Kotla or cheerleaders strutting their stuff during breaks or the spectacle of watching Muttiah Muralitharan play alongside M S Dhoni, people are liking the mix of visual delights.IPL has also been responsible for busting the myth that not too many women watch cricket. Women have shown a far higher interest in IPL.
About 36% of the total audience share watching IPL comprises women. Incidentally, it is the same number that watched India play in the much-hyped World Cup pre-semi-final stage as had been reported then.While one-third of the audience being women may not appear to be a large share of the pie, the number gains significance when compared to general entertainment programmes.Soaps and family dramas usually have 70% women out of the total viewership while Kaun Banega Crorepati , at the height of its popularity, drew 55% female viewership.
Another indicator are TRP ratings that the programme has drawn. IPL began its innings with a bang and a viewership of 8.21 in six metros on April 18 but this came down to 4.97 on April 19. The latest figures available with TAM show that viewership has gone up to 5.57 for six metros — Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.Comparatively, the rating for the Challenger Trophy held in 2007 was a mere 0.37 despite a high interest in cricket and massive publicity. News programmes draw TRPs of 1-2 while soaps average 3-4 points.
According to industry sources, IPL could be the next mass-based programme attracting not just men but women and youth as well.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
LAHORE: Many Pakistani actors are betting their money on the cricket matches of Indian Premier League, said sources. Reportedly many have lost thousands they put on stake. According to sources film industry icons Babar Ali, Shan, Saood, director Masood Butt, Altaf Husaain, actress Durdana Rehman and many others were betting on every match of the premier league.
Singers, musicians and even the studio workers had been betting.The studios get deserted as soon as the match starts while the actors have also made a betting spot in Iqbal Town for the purpose.Besides the film industry actors, other icons of TV and stage were also playing the favourite game around these days, added sources.
Karachi(PTI): Desperate to play in the Indian Premier League, Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Saturday filed a fresh appeal with an appellate tribunal, praying for a temporary stay on his five-year ban so that he can take part in the IPL and earn his living.
“Shoaib said that since the tribunal will take time to reach a final verdict on the appeal he has filed against the ban, he should be given a temporary stay for a month so that he can play in the IPL,” Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, who heads the three-man tribunal, told PTI.The tribunal will now meet on Sunday to deliberate upon the fresh application but Farrukh said the majority’s decision would prevail in the matter.
Farrukh, a retired judge of the Lahore High Court, said he had appointed a noted lawyer as Amicus Curiae to help the tribunal handle the case.He said the Amicus Curiae was an expert on criminology.
This appointment gives credence to reports that the two other members of the tribunal, former Test player Hasib Ahsan and former minister Salman Taseer had joined hands in favour of Shoaib while the justice felt the case made against him by the board was very strong and the ban justified.
Source: hindu.com
Knight Riders continue to loose where as Kings XI continue to win .Knight Riders were defeated by Kings XI Punjab in the 22nd match of DLF – Indian Premier League. Chasing the target of 179,they lost Ganguly when the team score was 22.Soon Hafeez, Hogg and Dass were also back in the pavilion and the Knight Riders were in dire straits. Half of the team was out in 9.4 overs at a score of 50 and it looked like a mere formality is to be done by Kings XI to win the match but David Hussey and Saha raised some hope and had a partnership of 104 runs.This could not proved to be sufficient as the run rate was way too high for Knight Riders to chase. Knight Riders needed 55 runs in last 3 overs and Hussey and Saha hit some huge sixes and thus they needed19 runs in the last over. The last over was bowled by Irfan Pathan and he gave only 8runs and thus Kings XI won the 4th match in a row.
