IPL players' auctions to be held in Bangalore on Jan 8 & 9

The much-awaited IPL players' auction will be held in Bangalore on January 8 and 9 and will see over 400 players going under the mallet, according to sources.

"The auction is to be held in Bangalore and a total of 416 playes would go under the auctioner's hammer," IPL sources said.

Under the Indian Premier Leaque Player Regulations, each of the founding franchises could retain up to four players in advance of the player auction - against fixed deductions from the USD 9 million salary cap.

Only Chennai Super Kings, the 2010 champions, and runners-up Mumbai Indians have retained the full complement of players.

CSK have retained skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay and Albie Morkel. MI held on to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard.

By retains four players, MI and CSK are each left with only USD 4.5m to spend either in the auction or in buying Ranji players outside the auction.

Delhi Daredevils retained blustering opener Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli was retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals decided to keep their two Australian stars Shane Warne and Shane Watson.

Rajasthan Royals will have USD 5.9 mn available to spend while Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore will each have a balance of USD 7.2mn available. The remaining franchises have the full USD 9mn available to spend.

BCCI loses appeal against Kings XI Punjab

A day after the Rajasthan Royals celebrated taking a step closer to returning to the IPL fold, it was the turn of Kings XI Punjab to feel the same elation today.

KXIP had much to celebrate after the divisional bench of the Bombay High Court upheld the order of the single bench that had stayed the termination of the Indian Premier League franchise by the BCCI.

The BCCI, which on Monday had filed an appeal against the initial decision, was also slammed by the High Court as it said the termination of KXIP was defective.

On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court had upheld the order passed by an independent arbitrator granting stay to the termination of the Royals' contract.

Justice SJ Vazaifdar had dismissed an appeal filed by BCCI challenging the stay granted by the arbitrator and permitted the Royals to participate in the IPL-4 auction that is to be held on January 8 and 9.

The Court has also imposed a condition on the Royals directing them to file confirmation before it by January 3 specifying full details of its ownership pattern and mode of control; apart from directing the IPL franchise to submit USD 2.83 million as guarantee to the BCCI for the contract and USD 18 million as bank guarantee for the players.

Meanwhile, a BCCI source said on Tuesday night that the Indian cricket board is likely to move the Supreme Court challenging High Court's decision regarding the Royals.

BCCI to fight High Court's Kings XI order

The BCCI followed an expected route, by challenging HC order, after Kings XI Punjab was granted temporary stay on their exclusion from the IPL by the High Court. The move comes just a few days after Kings XI were an established interim relief.

The BCCI will open its appeal before Justices DY Chandrachud and AV Mohta on Tuesday. The fate of the Rajastan Royals in also likely to be exposed later that day, by Justice SJ Vazifdar.

In its appeal, the BCCI have reportedly said that the team from Punjab "did not make out a strong prima facie case that its consortium members were always in control." The BCCI says that the franchisee's case did not meet the requirements in law to get the mandatory injunction that it did.

Last Wednesday, the court's ruling went in favour of the Mohali Indian Premier League team co-owned by Priety Zinta, Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman and Karan Paul. But the court also asked the franchisee to provide "security in the form of an unconditional bank guarantee of a Nationalized Bank for payment of the players' dues, initially for $18 million... and another guarantee of $3.5 million."

The HC order would have to wait until a new arbitrator, appointed jointly by BCCI and Kings XI, decides the dispute. It is expected that the arbitrator would take upto 2 years to give out the final orders, hence giving Kings XI an opportunity to be part of the next 2 editions.

KKR should retain Ganguly in IPL IV

Amidst the reports of Sourav Ganguly's possible release from KKR in IPL IV, former Bengal skippers Sambaran Banerjee and Gopal Bose have said that the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise might lose its support base in Kolkata in absence of its most popular sporting icon.

"Sourav is the best option to lead KKR in the upcoming IPL. I don't understand the rumors about his possible release by the team management. It is really needless and unwanted. Team wants him the most," Sambaran Banerjee, a former national selector and under whom Ganguly made his first-class debut told PTI Bhasha from Kolkata.

There are rumors that KKR have decided to let Kolkata's favourite son be up for auctions and not retain him. More importantly, they won't retain any player although they are keen on retaining explosive West Indian opener Chris Gayle.

"If Sourav is not there, KKR will lose the sentimental attachment that people of Bengal share with the team."

"I doubt whether they will be able to attract good crowds during IPL matches if Sourav is not there. KKR will face a lot of problems in his absence," said the veteran who was instrumental in Ganguly's comeback in the Indian team in 1996.

Similarly another former captain and staunch Ganguly backer Gopal Bose, has said that the former India captain is to Bengal what like Sachin is for Mumbai.

"We cannot imagine the Mumbai team in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar. Similarly Sourav is the face of Kolkata. He is the biggest sporting icon Bengal has ever produced. People are emotionally attached with him. The team management can conduct polls and more then 90% people will vote for Sourav," he said.

"He played well in the previous season and the most amazing part was his fielding."

Banerjee has said that Ganguly does not need to prove anything to anybody. He also hoped that KKR can reach the semi-final in the coming season under his captaincy.

IPL Governing Council to meet on Today

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council will meet on November 17 at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Recreation Centre at the Bandra Kurla Complex here, a Cricket Board official said.

Refusing to reveal the agenda of the meeting, a governing council member told PTI that a decision on the beleaguered Kochi IPL franchisee was not expected during the meeting.

"The franchisee has been given a 30-day notice. A decision cannot be taken before that," the member said.

The BCCI last month gave a 30-day notice to the Kochi IPL consortium to sort out its internal differences and get its ownership structure in order.

SA won by 6 wickets against Pakistan in the first T20

Fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe and off-spinner Johan Botha took three wickets apiece to help South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets in the first of two Twenty20 matches on Tuesday.

Tsotsobe, with a career-best 3-16, and skipper Botha (3-31) led a spirited South African bowling to restrict Pakistan to a paltry 119 at the Abu Dhabi Stadium in a match whose income will go to flood victims in Pakistan. Over two million people were displaced in the worst-ever floods in Pakistan.

Jean-Paul Duminy hit an elegant 41 while Colin Ingram remained unbeaten with 46 as South Africa reached the target after losing three early wickets for 26. The two left-handers shared a solid 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket after Faster Shoaib Akhtar gave Pakistan some hope with the quick wickets of opener Loots Bosman and AB de Villiers in the 3rd over.

Ingram hit two towering sixes and four boundaries during his 38-ball knock. Duminy hit five boundaries as the two dominated the Pakistan bowling which initially looked threatening. Botha said he was happy to lead the series. "It was a clinical performance and I am happy at the way the young guns stepped in after we lost three early wickets especially Ingram and Duminy," said Botha. Duminy, who also took two beautiful catches, was declared man-of-the-match.

Earlier, Tsotsobe and off-spinner Botha bowled tightly to derail Pakistan, who won the toss and batted on a flat pitch.

Misbah-ul-Haq, recalled after being axed following the World Twenty20 in May this year, top-scored with 27 with a six and two boundaries. Captain Shahid Afridi hit a rapid seven-ball 25 before he became one of Botha's three victims. Pakistan had raced to 16 in the second over before Tsotsobe removed openers Imran Farhat (10) and Shahzaib Hasan (nine) in the sixth.

Botha then removed Mohammad Hafeez (13), Afridi and Abdul Razzaq (four) to end Pakistan's hopes of reaching a respectable total. Pakistan coach Waqar Younis was disappointed over the poor batting. "We scored 25-30 runs less than we expected," said Waqar, whose team lost the last six wickets for a mere 35 runs. We need to bat with strategy in the next game."

This is Pakistan's home series shifted to United Arab Emirates due to security fears. The two teams meet in the second Twenty20 on Wednesday.

They then play the first two one-day internationals and the second Test in Abu Dhabi. Dubai will stage the last three one-day and the first Test.

No second chance for Rajasthan Royals: Shashank Manohar

BCCI president Shashank Manohar dismissed speculations that past IPL team Rajasthan Royals will get a lifeline from the parent body after the owners wrote a letter to BCCI demanding a second chance.

The champions of the 1st edition of IPL 2008, were expelled from the cash-rich league last Sunday on grounds on a variety of irregularities along with another high profile franchise Rajasthan Royals.

"They may have written a letter but where does the question of revoking the decision come up?" BCCI president Manohar told PTI when contacted at his Nagpur residence.

Manohar further added, "We have taken a final decision. That remains and no further decisions will be taken in this regard."

Last Sunday after the IPL governing council meeting Manohar had told reporters that there were violations in agreement and breach of contract on the part of the franchise that has led to the expulsion. There were discrepancies regarding the shareholding outline and ownership transfers which the board claimed were not sorted out.

Brett Lee signs up for New Zealand domestic T20 stint

Australian faster Brett Lee has signed to play domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand later this year with the Wellington Firebirds, the club said Monday.

Brett Lee, looking for as much match-time as possible as he seeks a career swansong at ICC World Cup 2011, will entrance for Wellington against Auckland on December 14, Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen said.

"It’s marvelous to have secured the services of Brett and his record speaks for itself," Larsen said.

"He's a gifted all-round sportsperson who has proven himself a true match winner for Australia in over a decade at the highest level."

The 33-year-old will miss the first half of the New Zealand domestic competition because of prior commitments to his home state New South Wales but will play five matches and be available for the final on January 2.

Lee retired from Test cricket earlier this year after a string of injuries but is worried to cap his international career by appearing for Australia at the World Cup 2011.

Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals agreements are terminated

In a radical step, the Indian Cricket Board unanimously decided to terminate the franchise agreements of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, while thrifty the newly-inducted Kochi team.

The Kochi franchisee has been issued a notice and has been given 10 days time by the BCCI, asking them to decide all their disputes.

The decision means that the 4th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will feature eight teams for the time being despite the addition of two new teams in Kochi and Pune. If Kochi is also scrapped, then of course there will be only 7 teams.

The decision was taken at disaster meeting of the IPL Governing council at MCA Recreation Centre here.

"It was unanimously decided that the franchise agreements with Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals be terminated forthwith based on the Legal opinions obtained by BCCI in the matters," the BCCI said in a release.

"It was further unanimously decided to issue a notice to the unincorporated joint venture holding the Kochi franchise calling upon them to resolve all their disputes and form a company which will hold the IPL franchise rights."

"Accordingly, P R Raman, advocate for BCCI has been given instructions to issue all the three notices," BCCI said.

Zimbabwe in South Africa 2010, Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time (GMT)	Place
Oct 08	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 1st T20I	16:00*	Bloemfontein
Oct 10	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I	12:30	Kimberley
Oct 15	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI	12:30*	Bloemfontein
Oct 17	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI	08:00	Potchefstroom
Oct 22	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI	12:30*	Benoni

* - Day-night Match....

ICC annual awards 2010

Cricketer of the Year: Sachin Tendulkar

ICC Test Cricket Awards:

Test player of the year: Virender Sehwag

Test team of the year: India

The ICC World Test Team of the Year is (in batting order):

Virender Sehwag (Ind)
Simon Katich (Aus)
Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
Hashim Amla (SA)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
Jacques Kallis (SA)
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind, captain and wicketkeeper)
Graeme Swann (Eng)
James Anderson (Eng)
Dale Steyn (SA)
Doug Bollinger (Aus)

ICC ODI Cricket Awards:

ODI player of the year: AB de Villiers

ODI team of the year: Australia

ICC World ODI Team of the Year is (in batting order):

Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
Shane Watson (Aus)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
AB de Villiers (SA)
Paul Collingwood (Eng)
Ricky Ponting (Aus, captain)
MS Dhoni (Ind, wicketkeeper)
Daniel Vettori (NZ)
Stuart Broad (Eng)
Doug Bollinger (Aus)
Ryan Harris (Aus)

ICC Emerging player of the year: Steven Finn

Best T20 performance of the year: Brendon McCullum

Spirit of Cricket award: New Zealand

ICC Associate player of the year: Ryan ten Doeschate

Umpire of the year: Aleem Dar from Pakistan

Women's Cricketer of the Year: Shelley Nitschke (Aus)

LG people's choice award: Sachin Tendulkar

Sunil Gavaskar removed from IPL Governing Council

In a main overhaul of the Indian Premier League, the BCCI dropped cricket Master Sunil Gavaskar from the IPL Governing Council, which was reduced to a 7-member panel with tenure of just one year instead of five.

The decision to drop SunilGavaskar from the IPL Governing Council was taken by the Cricket Board in its Annual General Meeting (AGM), which also appointed temporary chairman Chirayu Amin as full-time chief of the T20 league.

"The IPL Governing Council constitution was changed today at the AGM. The period of the Governing Council, which is a sub-committee, of the Board has been reduced to one year from five years," BCCI president Shashank Manohar told reporters at a press conference after the Annual General Meeting.

"It will have five members and two cricketers will be part of the committee. Earlier, cricketers were used to be paid Rs 1 crore but BCCI decided no payment will be made from now onwards," he said.

Champions League T20: Chennai Super Kings won the Title

The Chennai Super Kings are now the Emperors of the T20 world. Nothing went wrong for CSK as Hussey and Vijay got the team off to an extraordinary start with a superb 103 run opening stand. It was a golden night for Vijay as he stroked a half century and he also became the proud owner of the Golden Bat for the most number of runs scored in this tournament. Hussey also went past his fifty as Chennai reached home by eight wickets and are now proud champions of this Champions League T20.

Murali Vijay (58 off 53 balls), smashed his 3rd half-century of the Champions League 2010 while the other opener Mike Hussey played sheet anchor and remained not out on 51 as Chennai chased down the easy target of 129 with one over to spare.

Muttiah Muralitharan (3/16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) divided 5 wickets as Chennai controlled Warriors to 128 for 7 after the South African champion side won the toss and elected to bat first at the New Wanderers Stadium. Vijay underlined his emergence as a fine T20 batsman by becoming the highest run getter of the tournament with 294 runs from six matches.

Vijay's 53-ball innings was studded with 6 fours and 2 sixes while Hussey hit only 3 fours from 46 balls in his winning knock. CSK were richer by $2.500000 for winning the 2nd edition of Champions League T20 2010 tournament, their 2nd crown in 5 months after their IPL victory in April.

The total of 128 was too easy to defend and Chennai was always in control of the run chase though it got a bit tight with Suresh Raina, who was mainly responsible for CSK's semi-final win against Royal Challengers Bangalore with an aggressive 94, out cheaply for just two.

Hussey and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 not out), however, held on their nerves to pull off the win with a 25-run partnership for the unbroken 3rd wicket. Dhoni hit the winning runs - a four off Juan Theron - as Chennai scored 132 for two in 19 overs to lift the title.

LG ICC Awards 2010 short-list

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag of India, Hashim Amla of South Africa and Graeme Swann of England have all been short-listed for the LG ICC Awards 2010.

The votes have now been shine by the independent 25-person academy and these four men are the ones in the running to get the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Bengaluru on 6 October 2010.

Short-lists of nominees:

Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Graeme Swann (Eng), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

Test Player of the Year: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Dale Steyn (SA), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

ODI Player of the Year: Ryan Harris (Aus), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), AB de Villiers (SA), Shane Watson (Aus)

Emerging Player: Umar Akmal (Pak), Steven Finn (Eng), Angelo Matthews (SL), Tim Paine (Aus)

Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year: Ryan ten Doeschate (Ned), Trent Johnson (Ire), Kevin O'Brien (Ire), Mohammed Shahzad (Afg)

T20 International Performance of the Year: Michael Hussey (Aus); Mahela Jayawardena (SL); Ryan McLaren (SA); Brendon McCullum (NZ).

Women's Cricketer of the Year: Katherine Brunt (Eng), Shelley Nitschke (Aus), Ellyse Perry (Aus), Stafanie Taylor (WI)

Umpire of the Year: Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Tony Hill, Simon Taufel

Spirit of Cricket: India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

Redbacks conformed semi final berth

Southern Redbacks first came out with a disciplined bowling display to control the Bangalore side to 154 in 19.5 over on a little slow Kingsmead pitch and then achieved the target with 9 balls to spare in the Group B in CL 2010.

Skipper Klinger scored 69 off 57 balls with the help of 9 fours and a six, while Harris came out with a sparkling 57 off 38 balls. Redbacks scored 155 for two in 18.3 overs, with Callum Ferguson giving company to Klinger.

Chasing 155 to win, both the openers started on an attacking note. Neither Klinger nor Harris faced any problem in tackling the Bangalore bowling attack and kept sending the ball to the hedge in regular intervals.

Klinger cracked a four in the second ball of the innings off medium pacer Praveen Kumar, while Harris cracked three fours in the sixth over off Dillon du Preez to add to the frustration of RCB skipper Anil Kumble. Kumble tried out five bowlers, including himself, but all his efforts went in vain as the bowlers, including pacer Dale Steyn, proved quite ineffective and expensive on the Kingsmead pitch.

Southern Redbacks reached 50-run mark in the 6th over and then riding on the rampaging form of the two openers they crossed 100-run mark in the 12th over. To the end of the match, the Australian side lost two quick wickets in the form of Harris, who adorned his innings with 7 fours and two sixes.

Harris returned after a misunderstanding with his skipper while Manou feel to Kumble after facing three balls but that could not stop them from registering their third successive win in the tournament. Earlier, Preez and Ross Taylor scored an identical 46 to help Bangalore overcome a mid-innings slump and post 154 after Kumble opted to bat first.

Taylor, who cracked eight fours and a huge six during his 28-ball stay, steadied the RCB innings in middle overs while Preez capitalised on his home condition when the team was struggling at 76 for five in 10.5 overs. Preez struck one four and four sixes during his 25-ball innings and with Cameron White (25) produced a crucial 58-run partnership to pull the team out of the pit.

Some betting patterns were very suspicious at IPL 2

29 players, including two Australia players are suspected to be involved in match fixing in IPL2 in South Africa, the top London newspaper claimed. According to a underground dossier compiled by the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit, the list includes some high-profile names but no one from England or Pakistan, whose players did not take part due to security issues, The Sunday Times claimed.

"Some betting patterns were very suspicious at IPL 2," the report said quoting a source. Despite long-standing concerns about the honor of the IPL, whose commissioner Lalit Modi is suspended amid sleaze allegations, England players are expected to be available for the entirety of next year's IPL for the 1st time.

Three Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were suspended by the ICC for their suspected involvement in match-fixing in the Lord's Test and the trio returned to Pakistan recently.

AirTel CLT20 2010 will bring focus back on cricket

The CLT20 which is planned to start on Friday will let cricket aficionados move the focus back to cricket and move away from the ongoing spot fixing saga.

Australian Faster Shaun Tait who will represent the South Australian Redbacks said the 'spot-fixing' damaged the repute of the game and CLT20 2010 will be welcomed by fans as a much needed break.

"It is good time for this tournament to happen because cricket will be moving forward. People will at last get to see a spirited tournament rather than look at the garbage going on in England," he said on Tuesday referring to the 'spot-fixing' reports.

"The tournament is happening at the perfect time because it will shift the focus back on cricket," added Tait.

West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard also seconded taits view that CLT20 brings chance to regain spectators' faith in the game.

"I don't want to speak on the topic because I am not involved in it and so far in my career nothing like this happened. The most we can do at this moment is play competitive, hard and fair cricket whenever we get on to the field be it CLT20 or in international matches," said Pollard.

JP Duminy expressed sympathy for promising left-arm pacer Mohamad Aamir but also added that players should be very careful and aware when it comes to match-fixing.

"It is a pity that such serious and big allegations have come into cricket. But personally, I always try to keep myself miles away from all these things. For a cricketer it's about saying right things at the right time and remaining extra careful," the left-hander said.

"I feel for Aamir. It is a pity to be in this position, especially in this young age. I hope he comes out clean and enjoy a long career," added Duminy, who will turn out for Mumbai Indians in CLT20.

JP Duminy and Kieron Pollard of Mumbai Indians will face Tait of the Redbacks on the 14th.

Botha has been appointed South Africa's Twenty20 Skipper

Johan Botha appointed South Africa's T20 skipper after Graeme Smith resigned from the job earlier in the week.

"Johan was the common choice of the Board and we have every confidence that he will do an excellent job leading up to the next edition of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012," Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola said.

Johan Botha has had previous captaincy experience, having stood in for Smith during South Africa's tour of Australia in 2009 for the ODIs. He was successful in his stint, and led South Africa to victory in the series.

"Johan has an excellent record as a skipper," selection convener Andrew Hudson said. "He was an inspirational captain when he stood in for Smith in the ODI series victory in Australia in 2009. His appointment is part of the procedure of refreshing our Pro20 squad and also deciding whether to follow the route of having different skippers for different formats of the game."

Botha said he had enjoyed his earlier experience of the captaincy was hopeful he would do well enough so that when the time came, he would be considered for the ODI captaincy as well. Graeme Smith has said that he will resign from the ODI captaincy after the 2011 World Cup.

Smith set to quit as SA's T20 skipper

South Africa Captain Graeme Smith is set to quit as South Africa's Twenty20 captain after recent injuries seem to have hastened the conclusion to reduce his workload in order to concentrate on prolonging a test career that has yielded 7,170 runs at an average of 50.49, a source who declined to be identified told Reuters on Tuesday.

Smith, 29, who has captained his country since 2003, is due to hold a news conference in Johannesburg at 1100 local time on Wednesday.

It also seems likely the opening batsman will step down as one-day skipper in the near future, possibly after next year's 50-over World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Smith has been concerned about the lack of a sequence plan and has spoken on a number of occasions about his desire to finish his international career by playing as "one of the boys" under a different captain.

Sachin's form may help us win CL T20: JP Duminy

Skipper Sachin Tendulkar has mysterious ability to inspire his team-mates to perform several notches up and that will make a massive impact on Mumbai Indians' campaign in next month's Champions League T20 in South Africa, feels batsman Jean-Pual Duminy.

Duminy believes that if Sachin Tendulkar continues with his menacing form of this year's IPL, MI will go all the way through.

"He (Sachin) clearly leads from the front and that lifts his team-mates. He is very inspiring and exceptional skipper. If he fires, others also perform better by another 20 per cent.

"He has been in fine form in the IPL and for India. Hope he does the same for us to win this tournament," Duminy told PTI on the sidelines of the launch of Champions League Twenty20 here.

"Sachin helps everybody out and he tries to engage every player. I get along with him very well and had discussions on batting and other cricketing things," said the 26-year-old batsman, who was the inaugural CLT20's top scorer for Cape Cobras but will play for Mumbai Indians this time.

Shane Warne looking forward to IPL-4

Australian spinner Shane Warne expressed his willingness to play in the 4th edition of the Indian Premier League 2011.

The Rajasthan Royals captain, who lead his team to a title win in the inaugural edition 2008, had a three-year contract with his t20 franchise which expired after the 3rd edition.

Although a fresh auction will be held in September for IPL-4, the Australian star is not in favour of IPL franchisees retaining any player for the next season.

Warne, who is currently in England, said he is looking forward to play the in the Twenty20 cricket league in India for one more year.

"It's great here in England, love coming over for the so called summer !!! Hahaha. P.S: Yes will play 1 more year. I'm looking forward to IPL 4!," he wrote on his twitter page.

Warne has been uncertain about featuring in the IPL and had earlier described his chances of playing in next year's event as fifty-fifty.

Champions League Twenty20, 2010 Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time ISD	Place
Sep 10	MI v Lions, 1st Match, Group B Lions won by 9 runs	21:00	Johannesburg*
Sep 11	Warriors v Wayamba, 2nd Mat, Group A Warriors won by 7 wkts	17:00	Port Elizabeth
Sep 11	Central Districts v CSK, 3rd Mat, Group A CSK won by 57 runs	21:00	Durban*
Sep 12	Lions v South Australia, 4th Mat, Group B South Aus won by 11 runs	17:00	Centurion
Sep 12	RCB v Guyana, 5th Mat, Group B RCB won by 9 Wickets	21:00	Centurion*
Sep 13	Victoria v Warriors, 6th Mat, Group A Warriors won by 28 runs	21:00	Port Elizabeth*
Sep 14	MI v South Australia, 7th Mat, Group A S.Aus won by 5 wickets	21:00	Durban*
Sep 15	Central Districts v Victoria, 8th Mat, Group A Victoria won by 7 wickets	17:00	Centurion
Sep 15	CSK v Wayamba, 9th Mat, Group A CSK won by 97 runs	21:00	Centurion*
Sep 16	MI v Guyana, 10th Mat, Group B MI won by 31 runs	21:00	Durban*
Sep 17	RCB v South Australia, 11th Mat, Group B S.Aus won by 8 wickets	21:00	Durban*
Sep 18	Central Districts v Warriors, 12th Mat, Group A Warriors won by 6 wickets	17:00	Port Elizabeth
Sep 18	CSK v Victoria, 13th Mat, Group A Victoria won in super over	21:00	Port Elizabeth*
Sep 19	Lions v Guyana, 14th Mat, Group B Lions won by 9 wickets	17:00	Johannesburg
Sep 19	MI v RCB, 15th Mat, Group B MI won by 2 runs	21:00	Durban*
Sep 20	Victoria v Wayamba, 16th Mat, Group A Victoria won by 8 wickets	21:00	Centurion*
Sep 21	South Australia v Guyana, 17th Mat, Group B S.Aus won by 15 runs	17:00	Johannesburg
Sep 21	Lions v RCB, 18th Match, Group B RCB won by 6 wickets	21:00	Johannesburg*
Sep 22	Central Districts v Wayamba, 19th Mat, Group A Wayamba won by 74 runs	17:00	Port Elizabeth
Sep 22	CSK v Warriors, 20th Match, Group A CSK won by 10 runs	21:00	Port Elizabeth*
Sep 24	CSK v RCB, 1st semi-final	21:00	Durban*
Sep 25	South Australia v Warriors, 2nd semi-final	21:00	Centurion*
Sep 26	TBC v TBC, Final	21:00	Johannesburg*

* - Day Night Match

India tour not idyllic for Ashes preparation: Ponting

Australia captain Ricky Ponting fears that his country's forthcoming tour of India in October may obstruct their preparation for the Ashes series commencing in November 25 at Brisbane.

Ricky Ponting said that preferably, Australia should not play on dry and flat Indian pitches in the run-up to the Ashes series against arch-rivals England at home.

"If you were trying to sit down and map out your perfect preparation for an Ashes series or a home series it probably wouldn't be playing two Test matches in India," said Ponting.

"But you don't live in an ideal world. That's the way international cricket is these days," Ponting was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Australia play two Tests followed by three one-day Matches during their India tour.

Talking about Australia's three-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the 2nd Test at Leeds, Ponting admitted that he had misjudged the batting situation after winning the toss.

"We were definitely playing catch-up from stumps day one. That's my responsibility, to get those sorts of things right and make those decisions," Ponting said.

Australia were bowled out by Pakistan for just 88 - their lowest total in 26 years - on the first day of the 2nd Test at Headingley, in a Test that also ended Pakistan's 15-year wait for a win over Australia.

Sachin deserves World Cup victory: Morrison

Sachin Tendulkar deserves a World Cup win under his belt but to realise this dream the batting icon wants players like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni to fire in the 2011 home event, says former New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison.

"Sachin Tendulkar, the master, deserves to have some sort of winners medal hanging round his neck but it's not all about him. Cricket is a tough game and it's also about whether Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni can carry for India. Can they do it for Sachin?," Morrison said at an ICC audio-cricket show.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also feels that India will be strong contenders to lift the ICC World Cup 2011.

"I think India has the best chance to lift the World Cup this time round. It has to be good for them playing on home turf. It adds pressure but that's part of hosting.

"You feel that India want something special to happen and this year I think you've got to go with the India team to follow the 1983 side led by Kapil Dev," said Morrison, who claimed 126 ODI wickets and 160 in Tests.

India will co-host the 2011 edition along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-March.

McCullum almost quit NZ team for the IPL

Brendon McCullum reveals that he nearly turned his back on the country to entrust to an entire season of the IPL, before he changed his mind while on holiday in Fiji. The star NZ keeper & batsman made the revelations in his book Inside T20, co-authored by journalist Dylan Cleaver. In the book, he mentions the crash that the Indian Twenty20 league had on his psyche.

"I felt I had some unfinished business in the 2nd season of the IPL. However, the fact that the tournament did not go according to expectations did not sit well with me. I desperately wanted to turn it around," McCullum wrote.

"I must admit I came really close to not playing for NZ. I went to Fiji for a holiday with my wife and I had a long hard look regarding the cricket that I have to play.

McCullum said that the whole issue of whether he should sign or not sign with NZ cricket misty his thoughts during this period. He said that he had to give something up to understand it and he chose not to give up his full and total commitment to New Zealand.

Pakistan complete a 2-0 series win over Aussies

Pakistan beat Australia in 11 runs after their 23-run win on Monday to seal the Twenty20 international series 2-0.

Pakistan post a challenging 162 for nine in 20 overs with six of their batsmen reaching double figures, including the Akmal brothers Kamran and Umar who scored 33 and 25 respectively.

Skipper Shahid Afridi, who took two brilliant catches on Monday, struck with the ball this time. Afridi took two wickets for 30 from his four overs of quickest leg-spin to reduce Australia to 104/5.

Michael Hussey, who steered Australia to win in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final in St Lucia when Pakistan appear to have the game won, kept his team in the match batting at number seven.

Left-hander Hussey scored 25 from 14 balls but his dismissal lbw to Umar Gul spelled the end of his team's hopes and they were finally all out for 151 from 19.4 overs.

The teams meet at Lord's next Tuesday in the 1st test of a two-test series.

Match Summary
Pak 162/8 20 over Umar Akmal 25 Kamran Akmal 33 S. O'Keefe 3/29 Dirk Nannes 3/30	Aus 151 allout 19.4 over M. Clarke 30 David Hussey 33 Shahid Afridi 2/30 M. Aamer 3/27

Man of the match: Mohammad Aamer

Pakistan beat Australia by 23 runs in 1st T20i

Pakistan beat Australia for the 1st time in 13 matches across in all formats of cricket as they won the first T20 international by 23 runs at Edgbaston.

They were grateful to Umar Akmal's career-best 64 runs in just 31 balls that helped Pakistan to a total of 167 for eight after they had been 47 for four.

Australia, chasing 168 to win, were 144 allout with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal three wickets for 26 runs off his four overs and teenage left-arm faster Mohammad Aamer doing the mass of the damage.

Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up lead of the 2nd and final T20 international here on Tuesday.

Match Summary
Pak 167/8 20 over Umar Akmal 64 Kamran Akmal 23 Shaun Tait 2/25 Dirk Nannes 2/41	Aus 144 allout 18.4 over David Warner 41 David Hussey 34 Saeed Ajmal 3/26 M. Aamer 3/27

Man of the match: Umar Akmal

Pakistan v Australia in England 2010, Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time IST	Venue
Jul 05 - Mon	Pakistan v Australia, 1st T20I Pak won by 23 runs	21:30	Birmingham
Jul 06 - Tue	Pakistan v Australia, 2nd T20I Pak won by 11 runs	21:30	Birmingham
Jul 13 - 17	Pakistan v Australia, 1st Test	15:00	London
Jul 21 - 25	Pakistan v Australia, 2nd Test	15:00	Leeds

Australia in India 2010

Raina powers India win T20 Series

Captain Suresh Raina led from the frontage with a blistering 72(44) as India signed off their Zimbabwe tour with a complete 7 wickets win over the hosts in the 2nd and final T20 International at Harare.

Chasing 141, India made 144 for three with Suresh Raina striking the winning runs and comprehensive the two match Twenty20 series 2-0. Raina's effort earned him the Man of the Match & the Man of the Series awards.

India lost the 1st wicket of Naman Ojha early, but Vijay and skipper Suresh Raina ensured that India would not face any complexity. Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run standing for the 2nd wicket, which set up the second easy win. Raina's 44-ball knock contained 6 fours and 2 sixes.

India's 2nd consecutive win, after a poor show in the ODI tri-series, will do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters as they head off for the Asia Cup 2010 in Sri Lanka, which starts in two days time.

Match Summary:

1st T20: Zim 111/9 20 Over Chibhabha 40 Ervine 30 V.Kumar 3/24 A. Dinda 2/27 Ind 112/4 15 Over Y. Pathan 37 S. Raina 28 Price 2/24 Mpofu 2/31

2nd T20: Zim 140/5 20 Over Taibu 45 Coventry 28 A. Dinda 2/15 A. Mishra 1/21 India: 144/3 in 18 Over S. Raina 72 M. Vijay 46 Chibhabha 1/19

Adam Gilchrist warns of T20 overkill

Former Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist has warned of a T20 overkill in cricket in the wake of the IPL's success, saying it is time the administrators give thinking to how much more the players can take.

The 38-year-old wicketkeeper, who has remained in action civility the Indian Premier League, feels the number of matches should be regulated.

"The IPL is going bigger next year. How much further can you go? We have to be very smart with it and make sure that we monitor that," Gilchrist said.

"I think we are very close to the limit of how much cricket we can stage in general and Twenty20 has contested to the fore. But, this vast tool we have got, let's not burn it out," he said.

Gilchrist said players who decide to take breaks during the season should not be criticized as they are only trying to protect their bodies for as long a stay as possible in international cricket.

"If someone doesn't play because he has the chance to rest, the public shouldn't beat up on him. They are just trying to be as good as they can for as long as they can, first for their country, then their county," he said.

"But the IPL has moved the goalposts and clouded the issue a bit. But as professional cricketers, we have to stride carefully. I know a number of Australian players who have stayed away from the IPL for reasons of extending their Test careers and that's something all players have to weigh up," he added.

Australia in England 2010, ODI Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time IST	Ground	Place
Jun 17 - Th	Ireland v Australia, Only ODI	15:15	Castle Avenue	Dublin
Jun 22 - Tu	England v Australia, 1st ODI	19:00	The Rose Bowl	Southampton
Jun 24 - Th	England v Australia, 2nd ODI	19:00	Sophia Gardens	Cardiff, Wales
Jun 27 - Su	England v Australia, 3rd ODI	15:15	Old Trafford	Manchester
Jun 30 - We	England v Australia, 4th ODI	17:30	Kennington Oval	London
Jul 03 - Sa	England v Australia, 5th ODI	15:15	Lord's	London

Only 10 teams for this year's Champions League

There will be only 10 teams in this year's CL T20 as opposed to the 12 that participated in the inaugural in 2009, after the English Cricket Board(ECB) expressed their incapability to participate as their domestic season clashed with the tournament's dates.

English teams were forced out after their cricket board declined to adjust the dates of their domestic season to avoid a clash with the profitable league. The England and Wales Cricket Board had proponed the dates after being requested by the BCCI initially.

But when the Indian Board rejigged the Champions League T20 dates for a 2nd time, the ECB said it was left with no room to make adjustments again.

The tournament is a joint project between the cricket board of India (BCCI), Australia (CA) and South Africa (CSA).

Already nine of the ten teams for the tournament in South Africa, scheduled between September 10 and 26, are confirmed. Only the tenth team is to be known and that will be confirmed once the West Indian domestic T20 competition ends in July. The tournament will feature 23 matches, with the format, schedule and venues to be decided in the coming weeks.

The teams that have already qualified for the 2010 Champions League T20 are: Chennai Super Kings (India), Mumbai Indians (India), Royal Challengers Bangalore (India), South Australian Redbacks (Australia), Victorian Bushrangers (Australia), Warriors (South Africa), Highveld Lions (South Africa), Central Stags (New Zealand) and Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka).

No match-fixing in 3rd IPL 2010: Paul Condon

Outgoing ICC Anti-Corruption chief Paul Condon said he had no evidence to propose there had been any fraud in the 3rd edition of the IPL.

"3rd IPL from a clean cricket point of view seems to have been a very clean event," Paul Condon told a news conference at Lord's.

"There were rumours and unclear allegations about match-fixing in 3rd IPL 2010."

"No one has come forward from within the Indian board or the IPL or franchises or journalists, players or team managers, anyone with any specific allegations about match-fixing in the IPL 2010. All there has been is a nonspecific rumour."

The Anti-Corruption and Security Unit did not monitor the first two IPL Twenty20 competitions. Condon, who has been in accuse of the unit since it was set up 10 years ago to deal with a match-fixing scandal which resulted in life bans for three international captains, will be succeeded by former senior British police offical Ronnie Flanagan on July 1.

Clarke wants to continue as Australia Twenty20 captain

Michael Clarke's leadership qualities have come under the scanner in the World T20 in the West Indies, but Michael Clarke said he was enjoying every bit of the duty and wants to continue as Australia's T20 skipper.

"No doubt, I'm disappointed we couldn't win the World T20, win the final, but I've really enjoyed the opportunity," Clarke said yesterday after returning home following Australia's loss to England in the World Twenty20 final in the Caribbean.

"I've loved playing with the guys, I've had a lot of support from people back at home, the people who came and watched the games in the West Indies, and family and friends, so it's been great and I'm enjoying it," he said.

Clarke's future as T20 captain is likely to be decided over the next week as the selectors sit to name the Australian squads for the tour of England, where they will play Tests Series, one day matches and T20 games against Pakistan and the hosts.

He also has the backing of Test skipper Ricky Ponting, who feels Clarke is the future of Australian cricket.

However, it is not Clarke's captaincy that has been a matter of concern but his poor run with the bat.

The right-hander himself admitted that it was high time he reinvent his aggressive manner.

ICC T20 World Cup Team Standings 2010

England Won ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010

ICC T20 Final - England Beat Australia By 7 wickets

ICC T20 1st Semi Final - Sri Lanka vs England: Eng Won By 7 wickets

ICC T20 2nd Semi Final - Australia vs Pakistan: Aus won by 3 wickets


Group Match Standing:

Team	P	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
Group A
AUS	2	2	0	0	4	+1.52
PAK	2	1	1	0	2	-0.33
BAN	2	0	2	0	0	-1.20
Group B
NZ	2	2	0	0	4	+0.43
SL	2	1	1	0	2	+0.36
ZIM	2	0	2	0	0	-1.60
Group C
IND	2	2	0	0	4	+1.50
RSA	2	1	1	0	2	+1.13
AFG	2	0	2	0	0	-2.45
Group D
WI	2	2	0	0	4	+2.78
ENG	2	0	1	1	1	-0.45
IRE	2	0	1	1	1	-3.50

England had won a major international T20 World Cup

South Africa born batsmen Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen starred as England won their first major one-day title in a 7 wicket victory over Australia in the World T20 final.

England, chasing 148 to win in 20 over, after reducing a formerly unbeaten Australian side at this tournament to eight for three, saw Kieswetter and Pietersen put on 111 for the second wicket at the Kensington Oval.

They finally won with three overs to spare when skipper Paul Collingwood struck Shane Watson for a four as his side finished on 148 for three.

It was the first time England had won a major international one-day event after losing in 3 World Cup finals (1979, 1987 and 1992) and the 2004 Champions Trophy.

England, who detained Australia to 147/6, had an early setback when Michael Lumb's out them seven for one.

But Kieswetter(63) and Pietersen(47) then conquered the Australian bowlers. Pietersen, who faced 31 balls, with six and four fours, was out when he hoisted leg-spinner Steven Smith to David Warner on the long-off boundary line.

And, troublingly for England, 118 for two became 121 for three when Kieswetter was bowled by left-arm faster Mitchell Johnson, having faced 49 balls, with two sixes and seven fours.

But Collingwood and Eoin Morgan saw England home.

Beat in what was a first World T20 final for both the Ashes rivals left an Australia side before unbeaten at the tournament still searching for the one major title that has so far eluded them.

Earlier, David Hussey's 59 kept Australia in the match during an innings where the next best score was Cameron White's 30.

Kieswetter, a former South Africa Under-19 international, then struck medium-pacer Watson for two fours in as many balls

He later launched the all-rounder for a huge six over midwicket.

At the 10-over halfway mark, England were 73 for one compared to Australia's 47 for four.

Australia badly needed a breakthrough but, in Tait's comeback over, Pietersen drove him over his head for a boundary and then struck an even more impressive six high over long-off to bring up England's hundred.