TWENTY20 BIG BASH: QUEENSLAND SCRIPT 8-WICKET WIN OVER TASMANIA

Twenty20 Big Bash: Queensland script 8-wicket win over Tasmania

James Hopes’ quick half-century led Queensland to their first victory in this season’s Big Bash event. In the match played at Brisbane Cricket Ground, an all-round Bulls attack restricted Tasmania to a below par 20-overs total of 118 before the Queensland skipper blazed away with the bat to take his side home with just two wickets down.

James Hopes, the Queensland captain, won the toss and put the visitors in to bat first. The decision turned out to be correct as some tight bowling supported by an athletic fielding from Queensland squad kept the tourists under check right through their innings.

The Tasmania opener, Tim Paine – who has recently been appointed as Australian national team’s T20 vice captain – became the first victim of the day when Luke Feldman broke his stumps in the third over with only 11 on the board.

Paine’s dismissal took Rhett Lockyear to the crease and with opener Mark Cosgrove, the duo added 16 more runs to the scorecard before the former edged Ben Cutting to wicketkeeper Dunk behind the stumps. Lockyear scored 14 runs from 11 balls hitting three boundaries.

The tourists contributed to their own downfall with two careless and needless run outs. Tim Paine’s opening partner, Mark Cosgrove misjudged his hit to deep square leg as an outstanding direct hit from Michael Neser broke his stumps while Cosgrove was attempting a double. Travis Birt followed Cosgrove’s footsteps in the next over after Hopes’ throw caught him run out. Birt was soon followed back by Ryan ten Doeschate and Krejza as the Tigers faltered to 60 for 6 in the 12^th over.

Tasmania captain George Bailey tried to earn his side some respect with his 30-ball 37 hitting two sixes and a boundary. Bailey and James Faulkner buckled down to add 41 runs for the seventh wicket partnership and eased the nerves of the visitors. Faulkner piled up 24 runs from 23 balls including a boundary and a six.

Nathan Rimmington led the Bulls' bowling attack with 2 for 23 from his quota of 4 overs while rest of the bowlers, except Hopes, shared one wicket each.

The Bulls’ run chase went off to a shaky start, losing its openers in the first three overs with only 25 on the board. But, an in-form James Hopes, well complimented by Lee Carseldine, led the side to what turned out to be a comfortable win in the end with 37 balls to spare and eight wickets still intact. Hopes’ 44-ball 65 was laced with ten muscular boundaries and one six while Carseldine’s unbeaten 25 included three fours.

WASIM AKRAM UNHAPPY ON PAKISTANI CRICKETERS BEING IGNORED FOR IPL

Wasim Akram unhappy on Pakistani cricketers being ignored for IPL

Wasim Akram has been disappointed over the Pakistani players not being a part of the Indian Premiere League (IPL) this year. This is the second consecutive time that the Pakistani cricketers have been ignored in the cash rich Twenty20 tournament.

Wasim believes that the Pakistani team has the most talented cricketers in the shortest format of the game and the IPL will lose its gloss without the Pakistani cricketers. There will be an auction of 416 players for the next edition of IPL and there is not a single player in that auction from Pakistan.

Wasim said that the shortest format of the game in most popular in Pakistan and the IPL will miss some of the Pakistani players. He said, “There is little doubt about the popularity of Pakistani cricketers in Twenty20 cricket. That is why I believe that the IPL will certainly miss exciting players like Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.”

Pakistan has featured in two finals of the Twenty20 world Cup and they also qualified for the semi-final in the third World Cup. The team is ranked number one in this format of the game.

The Pakistani cricketers were a part of the first edition of IPL in 2008 but after that, the players were not selected for the auction in 2009. The reason for that were the security concerns followed by the Mumbai attacks. However, the IPL authorities denied that and said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn’t conform about the availability of Pakistan players for the tournament.

On the other hand, the PCB said that there is no interest shown by the IPL authorities to select Pakistani cricketers for the tournament. Wasim is certainly not impressed with the lack of good communication between the PCB and IPL.

Wasim stated that, “There was obviously a lack of communication but PCB should have initiated and pushed for the inclusion of its players in the event. Their failure shows a lack of vision among the board officials.”

Wasm said that the Pakistani cricketers should be a part of the IPL as it is a very good platform for the players to showcase their skills.

Indian Premier League Auction 2011

David Hussey joins Punjab for $1.4 million

Gautam Gambhir sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for a record $2.4 million.

Yusuf Pathan to Kolkata Knight Riders for $2.1 million.

Robin Uthappa to Pune for $2.1 million

Rohit Sharma to Mumbai Indians for $2 million.

Irfan Pathan to Delhi Daredevils for $1.9 million.

Yuvraj Singh to Pune for $1.8 million.

Saurabh Tiwary to Royal Challengers Bangalore for $1.6 million.

Mahela Jayawardene to Kochi for $1.5 million.

David Hussey to Kings XI Punjab for $1.4 million

AB de Villiers to Royal Challengers Bangalore for $1.1 million.

Cameron White to Deccan Chargers for $1.1 million.

Jacques Kallis to Kolkata Knight Riders for $1.1 million.

Ross Taylor to Rajasthan Royals for $1 million.

Johan Botha to Rajasthan Royals for $950,000.

Dinesh Karthik to Punjab for $900,000

Sreesanth to Kochi for $900,000

Adam Gilchrist to Kings XI Punjab for $900,000.

Zaheer Khan to Royal Challengers Bangalore for $900,000.

Andrew Symonds to Mumbai Indians for $850,000

David Warner to Delhi for $750,000

Kumar Sangakkara to Deccan Chargers for $700,000.

Tillakaratne Dilshan to Royal Challengers Bangalore for $650,000.

Kevin Pietersen to Deccan Chargers for $650,000.

Daniel Vettori to Royal Challengers Bangalore for $550,000

Rahul Dravid to Rajasthan Royals for $500,000.

Graeme Smith to Pune for $500,000.

RP Singh to Kochi for $500,000.

Brendon McCullum to Kochi for $475,000.

Michael Hussey to Chennai for $425,000.

VVS Laxman to Kochi for $400,000.

Brad Haddin goes to Kolkata Knight Riders for $325,000.

Shikhar Dhawan to Deccan Chargers for $300,000.

JP Duminy to Deccan Chargers for $300,000

Parthiv Patel to Kochi for $290,000

Naman Ojha to Delhi Daredevils for $270,000

Wriddhiman Saha to Chennai for $100,000

Unsold: Graeme Manou, Brian Lara, Herschelle Gibbs, Jesse Ryder, Sourav Ganguly and Chris Gayle.

Racist e-mail scandal disappointing: Gilchrist

Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist on Saturday termed the racist e-mail scandal involving his country's police officers "very disappointing", but claimed that Indian students Down Under are "positive" about their stay.

"If it (racist e-mail) is a recent news, as we will try to find it out, and if it is proven to be correct then it is very disappointing," Gilchrist said.

The cricketer said the Australian government has taken up the recent racial incidents against Indians "seriously".

"It needs to be taken seriously. Our government and the education sector have certainly addressed it. Indian students there have been very positive about being in Australia and on (university) campuses. They feel safe," Gilchrist told a television channel.

Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday summoned Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese and sought an explanation on the issue in which top Victorian police officers have been caught in a racist e-mail scandal joking about the electrocution of an Indian train passenger.

Gilchrist said Australia is trying to ensure that no racial incidents occur. "We have to work together to try and ensure that these incidents do not re-occur. I think we are trying to do that."

IPL4: VVS, Gilly not in Deccan's plans

So now it's business time once again! IPL players' auction is round the corner and just like other teams, Deccan Chargers, too, are rolling their sleeves up to battle in the players' market. And since it is already confirmed that the big-hitting Adam Gilchirst is making his way out of the Hyderabad-based side, the options available for the 2009 champions make for an interesting reading.

Gilchrist, one of the best in the 'cricketing business', took the team's reins from VVS Laxman after the side had a disastrous inaugural season where it finished at the bottom of the points table. The swashbuckling Aussie not only brought immediate results in the next edition, but also enthused the spirit that was missing in the first season.

Though, touted as underdogs in the 2009 event, which was shifted to South Africa, Gilchrist, with good support from his former Aussie teammate Andrew Symonds and other Indian players took everyone by surprise by clinching the cash-rich event.

But since the left-hander has already made up his mind to look for other opportunities, it is interesting to notice the places he may go to.

It's already in the air that the new entrant, Pune Warriors, could take the services of the 38-year-old as he has got the perfect credence to lead the side. And with good players, decent support staff and owner's backing, he could definitely help the Sahara group-owned side to set off to a flier.

There is also a strong possibility that Kolkata Knight Riders, could rope in the experienced player, as Shah Rukh Khan and other co-owners are looking for a breath of fresh air, especially after the disappointment of the first three seasons, where it performed much below everyone's expectations.

If Sourav Ganguly — the present captain of KKR — leaves the Kolkata side, which very much seems to be on the cards, then Gilchrist could be the right person that coach Dav Whatmore and his team would like to work with.

And as the date — December 8 — to retain the four marquee players by each team is approaching, only Andrew Symonds and Kemar Roach are certain to have a long run for the Deccan side.

There is no chance that Herschelle Gibbs, who has been in the news lately more for his controversial book than his cricketing credentials, will be retained. It is also certain that Chaminda Vass, who is over 36 years of age, will make the cut. West Indian Dwayne Smith had already got an extended spell with the franchise, so it is unlikely that he would be a part of the set up this time.

Two other Australians, young Mitchell Marsh and pacer Ryan Harris who were impressive with the limited outings they got, are not the best bargains with the amount of money at stake.

Since maximum of only three Indian players can be retained by a franchise, for most of the players, it's a battle of survival as few may just not be picked by the same side or may be by any.

The most interesting case will be of VVS Laxman. The stylish Hyderabadi batsman has been on a roll — playing vital innings and scoring tons of runs — in the longest version of the game. But still many find him slow for the fast-pace cricket. His ground fielding, except standing in slips, has always been under the scanner.

And though it would be difficult to fill Gilchrist's shoes but another Australian, who is as competent as the left hander, Shane Warne could be the perfect replacement for the wicket-keeper batsman. The former Aussie great had a dream inaugural season with the Rajasthan Royals, helping them winning the trophy in 2008.

However, his availability will depend on whether the Jaipur-based team gets the chance to participate in the next edition. But if things go according to the BCCI's plan then Warne could well be in Deccan's dug out next season.

Warne's teammates in Rajasthan, Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan, could also be the lucky one if being selected for the Chargers. Same holds true for Kings XI Punjab's Sri Lankan veterans, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. The two Sri Lankans are looking certain to leave the Mohali side, especially after the dreadful outing they had in the last three years.

So the stage is set and the players are ready to be under the hammer and now everything depends on how quickly Deccan charges itself up to make a move in the players' auction.

Lara, Gilly in top bracket for IPL auction

Dec 21, 2010 Former West Indies great Brian Lara, dashing Australian batsman Adam Gilchrist and hard-hitting Chris Gayle are among the overseas players who have been put in the top price bracket for the January 8 and 9 players' auction for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League(IPL).

Around 400 foreign players have expressed their willingness to be a part of the cash-rich event. They have been classified in six brackets ranging from $20,000 to $400,000.

Defending World T20 champions England have six players - Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright and Michael Yardy - in top bracket. New Zealand have their skipper Daniel Vettori, deputy Ross Taylor and wicketkeeper batsman Brendon McCullum in the top rung.

The Australians have only three players - Shaun Marsh, Gilchrist and Brett Lee - in the top bracket base price. The Hussey brothers Mike and David are in the second base price bracket of $300,000, while T20 and ODI specialist David Warner is in the third bracket with a base price of $200,000.

It is also learnt that, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting's names did not figure in the list that the IPL governing council had sent to the franchisees.

Surprisingly, Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara is missing from the top group as only two Sri Lankans - Mahela Jayawardene and TM Dilshan - have found place. South African captain Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers are in the elite group as well.

There are however no Bangaldeshis in the top bracket as Shakib Al-Hasan gets the highest base price of $200,000, while Mohammed Ashraful and Tamim Iqbal have base prices of $50,000 and 100,000 respectively.

Top Bracket Base Price ($400,000)

England: Kevin Pietersen, James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum

Australia: Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh, Brett Lee

South Africa: Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers.

Sri Lanka: TM Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Brian Lara

I did nothing wrong: Lalit Modi

Putting up a stout defence, sacked BCCI administrator Lalit Modi on Thursday denied any wrongdoing during his role as IPL commissioner and called the charges against him as witch-hunt.

Modi said he did not rig any of the IPL bids, did not make money out of IPL and that BCCI was aware of all his actions.

Modi, in an interview to You Tube, said he actually spent from his own pocket during his tenure and never took any money from the Indian cricket Board for his job.

Modi, said he would return to India whenever he is convinced that he is safe in the country.

Modi said he was sorry that his tweets led to Shashi Tharoor's sacking but did not regret tweeting.

He said whatever he did during the Kochi bid process, he did it for the benefit of the investors.

Modi is facing charges of financial irregularities and is facing probe by Enforcement Directorate, BCCI Disciplinary Committee and the Chennai Police.

Modi said BCCI was aware about the entire bidding process including that some of his relatives were involved.

"When somebody turns around and says that they didn't know about it it's absolutely a false story...I mean everybody concerned from the governing council to the BCCI members, were very much present in the room, and in fact everybody was just happy at that point in time because we got eight bids," he said.

"In fact you had my Vice Chairman Niranjan Shah who was questioned immediately after the auction and said 'Mr Modi's relatives have bid', he said 'so what, there are no other bidders out there, and if he has bid he has put his own money in', if it wasn't friends and family that are coming to bid and come into...and believe in the product they wouldn't have had the IPL in the first place," he said.

Asked about all the charges he said, "What I did is absolutely by the book, what I...and the rules that we made, and we went out and delivered what we had to do. Currently whatever is on is like a witch hunt and you know I'd rather not comment on it, this is something that you've got to ask the government why they're doing it."

Modi denied the allegations that he influenced the bid process as he wanted Adani Group and Videocon to win the franchisees for season IV.

"How do you rig the process? It's an open bid, it's a tender process, you put the tender in, highest person wins, if that was the case why did Adani not win? Why did Videocon not win? Sahara went and won it for 370 million because it was an open process. Kochi went and won. If it was going to be a rigged process they (Adani and Videocon) would have won."

Modi is though confident that he will come out clean. "It's going to end by me getting a clean slate." Explaining the Kochi row, which eventually cost Modi and Union minister Tharoor their jobs, he said, "For the first time I found that an agreement had been submitted by a party where they had a 25% sweat equity clause in there, and that clause, irrespective of the capitalisation was going to ask the other 75% shareholders to pay for losses over the next decade of decades......it's business at the end of the day for them, and today you must support it for other various reasons, but sooner down the line it's going to become business and your accountant's going to tell you 'guys you're going to be bankrupt' or 'you've got to pump in more money."

He said he never aimed to hurt Tharoor and it just happened.

Tharoor got embroiled in the controversy when it came to light that her close friend Sunanda Pushkar, with whom he married recently, had sweat equity in Kochi Franchisee and that the minister had interest in the franchisee.

"Well that wasn't intended, it happened, it wasn't intended to embarrass anybody. It was the intention of that to get the truth out there, it wasn't intended to ridicule, embarrass a minister or the government.

"I'm sorry that it happened, but at the end of the day you've got to understand that the events leading to Kochi are still sub judice. I wouldn't like to at this point in time actually get into the nitty gritties and the details of what actually happened," he said.

Modi also spoke about controversial IPL television rights deal with World Sports Group, due to which BCCI said it suffered loses to the tune of $80 million.

"When we went out to market the rights of IPL you'd be surprised there was one bidder, and that one bidder was World Sports Group. Sony actually bid and withdrew their bid prior to the bids even opening. ESPN bid, but they'd put zero number on the table so that their bid was disqualified.

"The only company that actually put any money on the table above the minimum guarantee amount was World Sports Group in the round one, and that's...and then they did a back to back licensing deal with Sony.

"A marketing company's job is to buy and sell rights, so if they bought a right that's close to USD two billion as an example and they sold it for two billion eighty to somebody as an example, and they made USD 80 million over a ten year period, what's wrong with that?

Modi said instead BCCI made money with his idea, which proved to be superhit.

"I can very clearly tell you that I have not pocketed any money from the IPL. You've got to keep in mind I created something out of nothing. The BCCI had benefited, will benefit in the next ten years in excess of USD 2 billion which is never something that they have projected, to project that they were going to get, this is something of an initiative that I took on my own, as an honorary member... and I did not do it for myself, and the benefit 100% accrued to the BCCI.

Modi also defended his lavish lifestyle saying he managed his expenses on his own.

"All costs that are related to my staying in a hotel or travelling or cars, are all mine, you know, BCCI may have provided a car here or there in a particular city, but they all charge it back to me.

"I fly on my own accord, I stay in hotels on my own cost, I run the IPL on my own time, I have people working in the IPL that are my personal staff which I pay for, and that is my contribution, in fact I'm paying for it, not somebody else."

Modi said he is cooperating with investigating agencies and will return to India when he feels it is safe for him.

"We have provided every piece of document that is needed by the enforcement directorate, all I've said it because of security issues I do not want to take the risk, for me security is a very important issue, the security of me and my family is extremely important," he said.