Player salaries set to soar in IPL 2009

op players could earn as much as $15mn in the IPL’s next season after the IPL decided to scrap the $5mn cap on player salaries.

This year the IPL had restricted franchises from spending more than $5mn on the player auctions to prevent the very rich teams from monopolizing.

But the inaugural season has turned out to be a major success and as a result the player salaries could skyrocket next season.

“If we hadn’t done that, I can tell you that our players would already be the highest-paid across any sport in the world,” IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi told The Daily Telegraph.

“It will happen – if not today, then tomorrow. Because once the franchises have established themselves, it will be a free-for-all,” he further stated.

MS Dhoni, captain of Chennai Superkings, apparently told a senior Australian player that contracts of upto $14-15 mn would be introduced next season.

Hayden admitted that players could be in for huge gains next year. “From what I have heard, some of the stuff (salaries)this year could be just the tip of the iceberg,” Hayden said.

I want to perform: Sachin

Mumbai, May 6: Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar added yet another feather to his cap after receiving the Padma Vibhushan from the President of India in the capital on Monday. Tendulkar sounded pleased on receiving the award and dedicated his award to his fans here on Tuesday.

Tendulkar, who had flown down to Delhi with his wife to receive the award, felt it was a matter of great pride and honour to receive the Padma Vibhushan.

“It is a great honour to accept the Padma Vibhushan. In my 18-year career, I have been fortunate to receive many awards and medals. “But to receive the Padma Vibhushan which is India’s second highest civilian honour is something that I always dreamt of. Many people have appreciated my work and the government has also appreciated my work, so it feels nice.” On his injury Tendulkar said, “I am working hard on my fitness. When I feel comfortable I will be back. Along with me even the physios are making their best efforts so that I can play as soon as possible.”

He also thanked the owners of the Mumbai Indians who have been very kind to him and not pressurised him at any point. He said, “The period of my injury has been very difficult. But I want to thank the Reliance owners, Nita Ambani, Mukesh Ambani and Nikhil Meswani. They have supported me a lot during this difficult period.

“They haven’t pressurised me one bit. I played one of the practice matches recently and I felt a little bit of discomfort. When I feel completely fit I would love to come out and perform well for the Mumbai Indians.”

Tendulkar kept in mind the farmers and soldiers of the country and wanted to share his award with them. He said, “The farmers who produce food for us and the soldiers who protect us from our enemies deserve this award more than me.”.

Charu Sharma removed as Bangalore’s CEO

The Bangalore Royal Challengers’ poor run in the IPL has claimed its first victim with Charu Sharma, the franchise’s CEO, being relieved of his job. While the official version said Sharma stepped down due to personal reasons and will be replaced by Brijesh Patel, secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, which runs the game in the franchise’s home city, sources close to Sharma said he had been asked to leave.

The development came a day after Bangalore, the IPL’s second-most expensive franchise, were comprehensively beaten on their home ground by Kings XI Punjab, their fifth defeat in the competition. They currently lie second from bottom in the points table after showing patchy form through the tournament.

A Royal Challengers team spokesperson said Sharma, a well-known television professional and former national diving champion, stepped down due to “personal reasons” but a source closely associated with the development told Cricinfo he was asked to leave by Vijay Mallya, the chairman of United Spirits Limited, the liquor company that owns the team.

Sharma was not available for comment but it’s learnt he was told categorically on Tuesday afternoon that he would have to leave. “Charu can’t go out to bat or bowl for the team so, obviously, the owner wants to send a strong message after the string of defeats. This is clearly a symbolic gesture but unfortunately, the CEO has been made the scapegoat,” the sources said.

The news seemed to have surprised many of the players in the Bangalore team, who reached Kolkata on Tuesday night. “It’s been shocking, and so early in the tournament,” a senior player told Cricinfo. “There are still seven matches to go, and we could have clawed back. I just hope this doesn’t put additional pressure on the team now because the first question a team-mate asked on hearing about this development was: Who’s next?”

The team’s spokesperson, however, dismissed speculation that Venkatesh Prasad, the team coach, was on his way out too, though he said Patel would be part of the team management for their next match against the Knight Riders in Kolkata on Thursday.

Mallya is learnt to have been extremely upset on Monday night after he watched his team, led by Rahul Dravid, the former India captain, lose their fifth match. Mallya bought the franchise from the IPL council with a bid of US$ 111.6 million and then faced a barrage of criticism after the players’ auction where Dravid took the lead in picking a squad – including South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and India’s Wasim Jaffer – that has since been tagged as a Test XI.

Curiously, Patel, the new CEO, and Mallya were on the opposite sides of a bitterly fought election to the general body of the KSCA, in which Mallya was backing Srikantadatta Wadiyar for the president’s post against Gundappa Viswanath, the former Test batsman who was supported by Patel. Though Wadiyar won, Patel, known for his organisational skills, managed to hold on to the secretary’s post.

IPL not beneficial to Australian cricket

Indian Premier League (IPL) is a huge transformation of cricket. Over the years, cricket has witnessed a massive change. Cricket, which was played in leisurely ways by some amateurs only for fun, is now a highly professional game. And with IPL cricket has touched a new high, dominated only by market forces.

Only time will tell whether this shift is good or bad for the game. There are some pundits who are excited about the newest format of the game. But some people also castigated the T20 for being not so classic, a possible destructive force on Test cricket, on players’ techniques. One of them is former Australian great Greg Matthews. He thinks that IPL won’t help Australian cricket in any way. We at Zeecric.com bring to you the views of Greg Matthews on IPL.

“The multi-billion-dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) was not healthy for Australian cricket as it does nothing for grassroot players though elite cricketers are paid well,” said Matthews.

“The serious bad news is that the only cats getting to earn out of it are a group of Indians or a couple of individuals. Cricket Australia gets nothing, grassroots get nothing – 0.0000001 percent of my community are getting a feed out of this and that is not groovy,” Matthews added. He, however, said: “(I`m) very, very happy that Asia is running the game now. The English had 100 years of it and did a pretty average job”.

Sachin Tendulkar unlikely to take field

Mumbai, May 6: : Mumbai Indians badly needed captain Sachin Tendulkar to maintain their winning momentum but the master batsman is still unlikely to make his Indian Premier League debut in their match against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday.

“I don’t know whether I will play tomorrow or not. I am working on my fitness with my physio now. I think I will play when I become fit,” said Tendulkar, who is nursing a groin injury.

The Mumbai icon player said he has been under no pressure from any quarter to start playing in the IPL, though he wanted to be in the thick of action as soon as possible and help his side maintain the winning momentum after winning the last two matches.

“I want to play in the IPL as soon as possible. But, I have not been under any pressure. My team owner (Mukesh Ambani) told me to concentrate on recovery from my injury, so I will play when I am fit,” he said.

Asked how he felt on being honoured with Padma Vibhushan, Tendulkar said, “I am happy that the Government has given recognition to my contribution.”

Gilchrist departs after scoring fifty(CSK vs DC,May 6)

Adam Gilchrist scored a magnificent fifty to help Deccan Chargers get off to a flying start. Gilchrist who scored 54 runs was out as he slashed at a wide delivery and handed a catch to Badrinath at point. Earlier, chasing a modest winning target of 145, Deccan Chargers lost their first wicket in the form of Herschelle Gibbs. Gibbs who replaced VVS Laxman as opener for this match was out caught by the bowler for 10 runs. Manpreet Singh Gony smashed two sixes in the last over to ensure Chennai Super Kings ended with a fighting total on the board. With 20 runs coming off the last over, Super Kings finished with 144 for the loss of 7 wickets off their allotted 20 overs. Suresh Raina top scored with 32 while RP Singh took two wickets for the Chargers. Just a few overs after losing their skipper MS Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings were dealt another blow as Joginder Sharma was cleaned up by RP Singh. Just as Chennai were building up a partnership, Sanjay Bangar struck a crucial blow as he removed Suresh Raina. Raina was looking well set on 32 before he chipped a full toss from outside the off stump into the hands of Rohit Sharma at cover. Chennai Super Kings were in deep trouble at the half way mark in their innings as they lost four of their top order batsmen with just 66 runs on the board. Vijaykumar struck an early blow for the Deccan Chargers as he removed opener Parthiv Patel in the first over of the innings. Patel, who was dropped of the previous ball was out as he tried to play a pull shot and was brilliantly caught by RP Singh. Deccan Chargers’ stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist won the toss and decided to field first in this do or die encounter against the Chennai Super Kings being played here at the Chidambaram Stadium. Chennai got off to a great start, winning their first four games but the departure of their star players has left a void which the other players have been unable to fill. Hyderabad on the other hand, have their own set of problems to deal with. With only one victory so far and they are on the verge of elimination. They might have some of the biggest names in International Cricket but nobody except Rohit Sharma has performed.

Shoaib arrives in India

Shoaib landed at the Indira Gandhi Airport at 4 pm yesterday and was mobbed by the reporters instantly.

“I am happy to be in India. I am looking forward to play in the IPL and play my role for my team,” he said.

“I am grateful to the people of India for embracing me, especially (team owner) Shah Rukh Khan who supported me. Eden Gardens is like my home ground. I am looking ahead to be there soon.”

Akhtar added that he was willing to work hard on his fitness. “I have not played cricket for four months. I have to acclimatise with the conditions and train hard. I want to do my bit for my team,” he said.

Tendulkar receives Padma Vibhushan

On Monday, Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour, by the President of India, Pratibha Patil.

“I’m very happy, it’s difficult to explain in words,” Tendulkar said after receiving the award.

“In 18 years, I have received several awards but this one is close to my heart. I’m happy that the government has acknowledged my contribution,” he added.

Tendulkar, captain of the Mumbai Indians, is currently out of action due to a groin injury.