Chennai And Mumbai To Open 2012 IPL

Reigning champions Chennai Super Kings will get the 2012 Indian Premier League underway when they take on the Mumbai Indians on 4th April at home. The full fixture list for the fifth season has been released and the competition returns to a home and away format following the expulsion of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Pune, who made their debut in the fourth season, will play their matches at their newly completed stadium in Pune while Dharamsala, Visakhapatnam and Cuttack will each host two matches. The league stage will run until 20th May before Bangalore and Chennai host the play-offs. Bangalore will host the ‘qualifier’ match between the top two teams from which the winner will progress to the final on 22nd May and the ‘eliminator’ match between the third and fourth-placed sides on 23rd May. The winner of the ‘eliminator’ will play the loser of the ‘qualifier’ game in Chennai on 25th May ahead of the final in Chennai on 27th May. A full list of fixtures is attached. Chennai also won the competition in 2010 while Deccan Chargers (2009) and Rajasthan Royals (2008) have also tasted success. Chennai and Mumbai met in the final of the 2010 competition.

Sri Lanka win toss, bat against England

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat in the second and final test against England on Tuesday. The hosts, leading 1-0 in the two-test series, made two changes in the team that won the first test in Galle by 75 runs. All-rounder Angelo Mathews, who missed the first test due to injury, and paceman Dhammika Prasad replaced Dinesh Chandimal and the injured Chanaka Welegedera. England, the number one ranked test side in the world, also made two changes to their side, leaving out injured paceman Stuart Broad and spinner Monty Panesar. Pace duo Steven Finn and Tim Bresnan were drafted in.

Teams: Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad. England: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Samit Patel, Steven Finn, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan.

Sporting Solutionz bags broadcast sub-licensing-IPL 2012

Sporty Solutionz, a sports management company, on Monday announced that it has acquired IPL 2012 broadcast sub-licensing rights for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Sporty Solutionz has entered into an agreement with Sony MSN to do sub-licensing for IPL 2012. Company's management has announced that the broadcasters for both the territories have been finalised. "We are extremely fortunate and proud to be associated with the Indian Premier League. We are thankful to SONY-MSN for giving us this opportunity," Sporty Solutionz's CEO, Ashish Chadha said. Sporty Solutionz has finalised deals with Pakistan's leading broadcaster GEO TV & Carlton Sports as an official broadcaster for Pakistan and Sri-Lankan territory respectively. The organisation has earlier successfully acquired the worldwide rights to market and license the Bangladesh Premier League in the event's opening season.

Salman Khan believes IPL won't affect Bollywood-IPL 2012

As the fifth season of Indian Premier League (IPL) begins Wednesday Bollywood actor Salman Khan said Monday that filmmakers should not shy away from releasing their films during the cricket tournament as one of his hit films was released during the World Cup. "I don't think there will be any difference if you release your film during IPL. My film 'Biwi No. 1' was released during (1999) World Cup," Salman told reporters here Monday while announcing his association with yatra.com. He has invested in yatra.com and is also the face of the travel portal. The fifth edition of IPL will be held during April 4-May 27. With nine teams and 74 games across 12 locations, it promises to be a treat for cricket fans. Asked which team he thought will win the IPL, Salman replied diplomatically, "The best team should win. I have lots of friends who own the teams. Who plays the best should win." Both Salman and Shah Rukh Khan, who are at loggerheads, organised two different events in the city. In fact, Salman's event which was supposed to start at 11.30 in the morning, was postponed to 1.30 and clashed with SRK's.

Shah Rukh Khan confident of good show by KKR in the fifth edition-IPL 2012

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said the Indian cricket team's World Cup triumph last year was among the most cherished moments of his life in the last quarter of a century.

"In 1983 (when India won the event previously with Kapil Dev as captain) we were much younger, but we realised (then) the importance of a win. The last (2011) World Cup win was one of the most euphoric moments I have lived in the last 20-25 years," said the Bollywood star at a brand association event here.

Dhoni's men defeated Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium here to clinch cricket's show-piece event and set off wild celebrations across the country.

Shah Rukh, who holds a big stake in the IPL franchise outfit through his Red Chillies Entertainment along with another actor Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, saw a parallel between the cash-rich T20 event and the highly popular English Premier League (EPL) football tournament.

"IPL is about four or five favourite teams that you have every year. People would look forward to those teams that perform better and that happens in EPL also," he said ahead of IPL V opener between holders Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on April 4.

Shah Rukh exuded confidence about his squad putting up a good show in the upcoming event and said he was pleased that the Knight Riders have started playing as a unit over the last two seasons.

Gambhir must prove a point at IPL: Akram

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram on Monday said that the KKR captain Gautam Gambhir should win IPL 5 to prove a point to the Indian selectors who have removed him from the vice-captaincy of the Indian cricket team.
Ridiculing the selectors' decision to drop Gambhir from the Indian vice-captaincy, the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach said: "First time, I saw the vice-captain was dropped after losing. Usually the captain is dropped after losing...I don't understand what made the selectors to drop him.

"I don't know about him and what he feels but if I were Gambhir then definitely I would have thought 'you removed me from the vice-captaincy and my goal would have been to win this IPL and prove a point'.

Akram said the Knight Riders have a balanced side and every member of the team was enjoying each other's company.

"In general, we have the same team with five or six local players, who have been recruited keeping in mind the future," said the former bowling great.

"We have a very good coach in Trevor Bayliss who has immense T20 experience. The best thing about this team is they like each other's company. They will enjoy the success. This is the secret of any team's success, to support each other's success or failure," he added.

Welcoming the inclusion of the former KKR player Brendon McCullum, Akram said, "It's great that he returns to the team. This team has variety in both batting and bowling. Our captain (Gambhir) leads from the front. And we have a great hitter in Yusuf Pathan."

Akram said that the Knight Riders would benefit immensely from sports psychologist, Dr Rudi Webster.

"When I was a player, I used to speak to my wife as she is a psychologist. The idea to have a sports psychologist is to give confidence to the players going through a lean phase.

"This guy (Webster) is very experienced, having worked with Gary Sobers, Viv Richards, Brian Lara. He is the sports psychologist with cricketing experience. When you are mentally comfortable, it helps in your game," insisted Akram.

He also said that they were looking forward to playing on any kind of wicket.

"Wicket does not make any difference as we have a good side. We all know the Eden wicket, which is a good batting track."

Asked whether he was looking forward to their contest against Sourav Ganguly-led Pune Warriors India, Akram said, "It would be a very exciting contest. Sourav is a great friend of mine. I have worked with him, both as a player and commentator. He is a fierce competitor.