CSA declare their final team
CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) on Monday named their final 15-man squad for the ICC T20 World cup to be played in England in June.
The squad consists the main players who won the two T20 Internationals against Australia earlier this year and contains no new caps.
“Our cricket is entering an exciting period,” commented selection chief Mike Procter. “We are top of the ODI rankings but have never won a major trophy and this presents the opportunity to do so in a limited overs format.
“The players are all in good form and it is particularly pleasing to have so many quality all-rounders at our disposal. As always there are a couple of unlucky players and that emphasizes the excellent competition we have for places.
“I am delighted with the squad the selectors have given me,” commented national coach Mickey Arthur. “It is a team with plenty of options – great depth to the batting and plenty of bowling options. It is also an outstanding fielding unit.”
South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Johan Botha (vice-capt), Yusuf Abdulla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robbie Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe.
The team will gather for a training camp at the end of the month.
The squad consists the main players who won the two T20 Internationals against Australia earlier this year and contains no new caps.
“Our cricket is entering an exciting period,” commented selection chief Mike Procter. “We are top of the ODI rankings but have never won a major trophy and this presents the opportunity to do so in a limited overs format.
“The players are all in good form and it is particularly pleasing to have so many quality all-rounders at our disposal. As always there are a couple of unlucky players and that emphasizes the excellent competition we have for places.
“I am delighted with the squad the selectors have given me,” commented national coach Mickey Arthur. “It is a team with plenty of options – great depth to the batting and plenty of bowling options. It is also an outstanding fielding unit.”
South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Johan Botha (vice-capt), Yusuf Abdulla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robbie Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe.
The team will gather for a training camp at the end of the month.
IPL franchisees may make 4-5 time additional
Depositor who paid top dollar to own a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) opportunity are now on a good wicket. Franchise owners expect to earn around four-five times more this year than they did during the inaugural season of the 20-over league in 2008, thanks to a deluge of sponsorships and brand associations, according to estimates put together by Mint after speaking with franchise owners and media buyers.
This comes after initial reports that sponsors and advertisers were skeptical about IPL 2009’s success, when it had to be moved to South Africa after the Indian government said it could not provide security cover to the league during the election season, and that many had walked away from earlier commitments.
The team owners will also earn significantly more from the new broadcast deal the IPL management signed with sports marketing company World Sports Group (WSG) and Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd (MSM) this year. Last year, the deal had been signed for around Rs4, 000 crore for 10 years, while this year it was renegotiated at Rs8, 200 crore for nine years.
This comes after initial reports that sponsors and advertisers were skeptical about IPL 2009’s success, when it had to be moved to South Africa after the Indian government said it could not provide security cover to the league during the election season, and that many had walked away from earlier commitments.
The team owners will also earn significantly more from the new broadcast deal the IPL management signed with sports marketing company World Sports Group (WSG) and Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd (MSM) this year. Last year, the deal had been signed for around Rs4, 000 crore for 10 years, while this year it was renegotiated at Rs8, 200 crore for nine years.
Yuvraj hat-trick for Punjab fall short to discontinue Bangalore
A fine all-round performance by Yuvraj Singh was not enough to prevent Kings XI Punjab slumping to an eight-run loss against the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Friday.
Punjab captain Yuvraj took a hat-trick to help restrict Bangalore to 145 for nine at Kingsmead before blasting a superb half-century only to see his side lose two wickets in the last over of their innings to finish on 137 for seven.
Punjab began the last over of their innings needing 13 runs to win but medium pacer Praveen Kumar held his nerve to allow a single boundary and capture two wickets.
Yuvraj earlier removed Robin Uthappa (19) and Jacques Kallis (27) with the fifth and sixth balls of the 11th over before trapping Mark Boucher lbw with the first ball of the 13th for the first hat-trick of this season's IPL and the fourth overall.
India's Yuvraj claimed figures of 3-22, while left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdulla captured 4-36 making him the leading wicket-taker in this year's IPL with 13 wickets in six matches.
Punjab captain Yuvraj took a hat-trick to help restrict Bangalore to 145 for nine at Kingsmead before blasting a superb half-century only to see his side lose two wickets in the last over of their innings to finish on 137 for seven.
Punjab began the last over of their innings needing 13 runs to win but medium pacer Praveen Kumar held his nerve to allow a single boundary and capture two wickets.
Yuvraj earlier removed Robin Uthappa (19) and Jacques Kallis (27) with the fifth and sixth balls of the 11th over before trapping Mark Boucher lbw with the first ball of the 13th for the first hat-trick of this season's IPL and the fourth overall.
India's Yuvraj claimed figures of 3-22, while left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdulla captured 4-36 making him the leading wicket-taker in this year's IPL with 13 wickets in six matches.
Royal Challengers settle last-over exciting tale
For KKR, venues keep changing but the end result stays the same. Wednesday was no different as the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team went down to Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets at the Kingsmead in this Indian Premier League.
The Knight Riders would be a dreadfully let down lot as this was their best chance to turn the tide, what with the rival too sailing in the same boat. The match, however, had all the ingredients of a thriller with the Royal Challengers winning off the second-last ball, thus breaking their four-match losing streak and taking their points tally to four. The unlikely hero was opener Sreevats Goswami, the youngster from Howrah, who made the most of a rare start to anchor the innings and add some fizz to Vijay Mallya’s team.
It was Mark Boucher who provided the final flourish though. The South African wicketkeeper was at his menacing best, slamming two boundaries and a huge six during his unbeaten 25-run innings, which came off just 13 deliveries.
The desperation was all too evident in the Knight Riders’ camp as they had an extended practice session (lasting till about 30 minutes before the scheduled start) with the support staff working overtime to iron out flaws. But once on the field, the batsmen ran out of steam.
The Knight Riders would be a dreadfully let down lot as this was their best chance to turn the tide, what with the rival too sailing in the same boat. The match, however, had all the ingredients of a thriller with the Royal Challengers winning off the second-last ball, thus breaking their four-match losing streak and taking their points tally to four. The unlikely hero was opener Sreevats Goswami, the youngster from Howrah, who made the most of a rare start to anchor the innings and add some fizz to Vijay Mallya’s team.
It was Mark Boucher who provided the final flourish though. The South African wicketkeeper was at his menacing best, slamming two boundaries and a huge six during his unbeaten 25-run innings, which came off just 13 deliveries.
The desperation was all too evident in the Knight Riders’ camp as they had an extended practice session (lasting till about 30 minutes before the scheduled start) with the support staff working overtime to iron out flaws. But once on the field, the batsmen ran out of steam.
Pathan, Smith power Royals
Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty flashed her crossed fingers before the start of the match of IPL 2009, her team members handed over RR flags to a few fans.
On the other side, the Delhi Daredevils team owners' box was rather quiet before the start, only to get noisier when the umpires called play. Whistles were distributed to a section of the crowd and with every shot played the decibel level increased. Virender Sehwag started things off, hitting Dimitri Mascarenhas over square-leg.
The hoots swung according to the moments of the match. It was loudest when the ball was sent cracking to the advertisement boards; fluctuated up and down when there was a danger of losing a wicket, going rhythmically with the drum beats as the bowler walked to the top of his mark, and dead silent when a wicket fell.
The Daredevils' 143 for 7 gave the Royals a tricky target. For the kind of form and the (poor) starts Royals have been getting in the tournament, the Daredevils had the edge. But Graeme Smith found an able ally in number seven Yusuf Pathan, who played yet another destructive innings and forced a drastic turnaround. Pathan's sixes silenced the whistles in the crowd, handing the Daredevils their first defeat, by five wickets in this Indian Premier League.
On the other side, the Delhi Daredevils team owners' box was rather quiet before the start, only to get noisier when the umpires called play. Whistles were distributed to a section of the crowd and with every shot played the decibel level increased. Virender Sehwag started things off, hitting Dimitri Mascarenhas over square-leg.
The hoots swung according to the moments of the match. It was loudest when the ball was sent cracking to the advertisement boards; fluctuated up and down when there was a danger of losing a wicket, going rhythmically with the drum beats as the bowler walked to the top of his mark, and dead silent when a wicket fell.
The Daredevils' 143 for 7 gave the Royals a tricky target. For the kind of form and the (poor) starts Royals have been getting in the tournament, the Daredevils had the edge. But Graeme Smith found an able ally in number seven Yusuf Pathan, who played yet another destructive innings and forced a drastic turnaround. Pathan's sixes silenced the whistles in the crowd, handing the Daredevils their first defeat, by five wickets in this Indian Premier League.
