Pakistan players apply to IPL for Third edition

At least 12 players from Pakistan have applied to the IPL requesting to be placed 3rd edition auction. Still it is not known yet who all the players are, the report quoted a player as saying that most of the team currently touring Australia has been in touch with the IPL.

Earlier, IPL Chairman Lalit Modi had announced that if Pakistan players need themselves included in the auction group for the 3rd edition of the IPL, they would have to submit their names by December 31.

"All the players here have sent emails to Lalit Modi expressing their interest for next season," one of the players was quoted as saying by cricinfo. "We haven't yet applied for visas to India but we have the NOC's in place from the board."

An IPL official confirmed that "over 12 players" had applied from Pakistan though he was also unsure of the exact number.

For its part, the PCB has issued general NOCs for all its players to take part in the lucrative tournament, since it was keen that the players would not miss out on this edition after having missed the second IPL in South Africa.

However, with the uncertain political equations between India and Pakistan, it is not yet clear what kind of interest franchises will show in Pakistan players during the auction.

There is also the question of four players - Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Gul - who already have contracts with IPL franchisees. These contracts have been suspended currently, and the franchisees will have to let go of other foreign players if they want to retain the services of these four.

Sangakkara replaces Yuvraj Singh as Kings XI Skipper

Sri Lankan Captain Kumara Sangakkara has replaced Yuvraj Singh as the skipper of the Kings Eleven Punjab, the IPL team. The assessment has been reportedly conveyed to Yuvraj Singh by the CEO of the franchisee.

Yuvraj led the team in the first two seasons of the IPL, reaching the semi-finals in the 1st season, but not managing to repeat that success in the 2nd season.

Earlier reports suggested that Yuvraj Singh was being replaced because his approach was a problem and not because of the perform of the team.

Stuart Broad and James Anderson say no to IPL

England fasters Stuart Broad and James Anderson will not play Indian Premier League in 2010.

The fasters were in line for exciting opportunities in the cash-laden climes of the IPL but will instead turn their full attention to their International careers.

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff injured his knee while playing in the IPL last year while Kevin Pietersen had to refute claims he aggravated an Achilles injury while training with Bangalore Royal Challengers.

BBC radio quoted Stuart Broad, who also turned down an India term last year, as saying that his "First priority" was to represent his country.

As per the announcement released by a management agency representing Broad, the faster was quoted as saying that remaining fit for the Ashes was his main priority.

"Whilst the chance to play in the IPL is potentially a great opportunity, my first priority is, and always will be, to represent my country,'' Broad said.

"The IPL is a tournament I would like to play in at some stage in the future but my International career is my sole focus at this stage in my career," he added

James Anderson too had the same reasons to give and said, "I am proud to be playing cricket for England and my International career is more important than anything which is why I have decided not to compete in the IPL in 2010."

Faster Sreesanth suffering from Swine Flu

Opening fast bowler S Sreesanth was found to be suffering from swine flu, raising concerns about the health of both the Indian and Sri Lankan cricket teams with whom he travelled here from Nagpur for the 2nd T20 match.

S Sreesanth was admitted to hospital yesterday and late tonight it was confirmed after tests that he is suffering from Swine Flu.

Apart from Sreesanth, Indian cricket team manager Mayank Sekhar was also admitted to the hospital after developing flu-like symptoms last night.

"The manager has been admitted to the hospital only as a defensive measure after he developed cough and cold," Walia said.

Both the teams travelled to Mohali yesterday by a chartered flight from Nagpur where they played their 1st T20 match. S Sreesanth, who missed that match apparently due to a stomach upset, was on the flight.

No member of the Indian or Sri Lankan teams has so far revealed any symptoms of swine flu but all the players would be subjected to a medical check-up tomorrow morning, said Walia.

Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni coughed a few times while addressing a press conference here previous in the day but sources said that there was nothing to point so far that he was having flu. Besides Sreesanth and Dhoni, other members of the Indian team who travelled here are Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Ashok Dinda, Sudeep Tyagi and Pragyan Ojha.

Yuvraj Singh sacked as Kings XI Skipper

There have been reports responsibility rounds that the Kings XI Captain Yuvraj Singh has been sacked from the captaincy by the team management.

Reports said that the team coach Tom Moody was unhappy with Yuvraj's approach which apparently led to his sacking. The report also stated that Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara would take over as the skipper of the Punjab team through the IPL 3rd edition.

Kumara Sangakkara, however, refused these reports and said, "I already have my hands full with the Sri Lanka job. I cannot take another one and I feel an Indian should lead an Indian franchise."

Praising Yuvraj, Kumara Sangakkara said, "He is a very good skipper and I enjoyed playing under his captainship in the IPL. I haven't heard anything of this sort"

Pakistan cricketers ruled out of IPL III

Pakistani players will not play in the Indian Premier League III 2010 as their board has failed to get their visas before the deadline for confirmation of participation, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said on Monday.

"We have been informed by PCB that they have not been able to get the visas as of now. So we are not being able to expand the deadline. Today is the complete deadline for confirmation of Pakistani players. The swap window is day after tomorrow," Modi said.

"Unfortunately, the Pakistani players are out and they will not be allowed to take part in the next IPL because we are handicapped by the fact that the exchange window is day after tomorrow. We are informing the teams that they now can go for the replacement of the Pakistani players," he told the Times Now channel.

The Indian Premier League III 2010 will be played different venues in the country in March-April.