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sports TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012
INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE AUCTION
IPL franchises looking for Pak players KARACHI: Some franchises of the Indian Premier League have reportedly begun search for signings from Pakistan ahead of the players auction of the tournament that is due to be held in January. Sources close to some of the national team players told PTI that inquiries had already started coming in from interested franchises in the IPL. “Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings are among those said to be making inquiries in the initial stages over the availability of Pakistani players and their base prices,” one source stated. The BCCI, which owns the IPL, is yet to announce a policy over the participation of Pakistani players in the league. Pakistani players have not been able to take part in the lucrative league since the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 although in the inaugural edition, a number of them featured for different teams. Some of the Pakistani players have made no bones of the fact that they are keen to be part of the IPL, which offers lucrative money.
“If we get a chance to play in the IPL it would be great as it is not only about the money but also about being able to compete against and alongside top players of the world,” a national team player said. “It all depends on what our board says. If it gives us clearance fine but if it says no we can’t do anything directly,” another player said. Sources in the board said that they had asked the BCCI for clarity on whether Pakistani players would be part of the players auction. “The board will decide after getting a reply from the BCCI since it is their tournament,” a source said. He said as a policy matter it was decided that players would be able to sign up with franchises through the boards. “I think once the clearance comes it will be the board which will send names of players who can be part of the auction and even if some franchise approaches anyone directly, he will have to get clearance from the board,” the source stated. PTI
Cheerleaders perform in an IPL match.
WORLD RANKINGS
Clarke claims No 1 spot Clarke began the year in 20th position and has surged through the rankings by scoring 1,309 runs to date at an average of 119. ADELAIDE: Australian captain Michael Clarke (left) has regained his ranking as the world’s No 1 Test batsman after his record-breaking performance in the second Test against South Africa. The 31-year-old’s 230 in the first innings of the drawn Adelaide Test was his fourth double ton of the year — a feat that saw him become the first batsman in Test history to post four 200s in a calendar year. In the latest ICC rankings released late Monday, Clarke leapfrogged Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and South Africa duo Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis. It is the third time Clarke has moved to the top of the table, having first achieved the ranking in August 2009 and then surging to the summit in March-April this year. Both times his stay was brief, which could prove to be the case again. He leads Sangakkara by a slender 10 rating points margin and if the Sri Lankan manages a strong performance in the second innings of the ongoing Test against New Zealand in Colombo, he could reclaim the coveted spot. Despite struggling for top form in Australia so far, Proteas quick Dale Steyn held his No 1 Test bowling ranking ahead of Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal and South African Vernon Philander, who missed the Adelaide Test due to injury.
Sees positives in draw
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kipper Michael Clarke said Australia are well placed in the run-up to this week’s final Perth Test despite having to settle for a draw against South Africa in the second Test on Monday. The Australians spent almost nine hours in the field in Adelaide and bowled a total of 148 overs but could not dismiss the Proteas. Inspired by Test debutant Faf du Plessis, who ended on 110 not out, they batted out the entire fifth day to finish on 248 for eight. The first Test in Brisbane was also drawn. Australia must win in Perth to take the series and the number one ranking from SA.
OJHA CLINGS ON TO 5TH, NO INDIAN BATSMAN IN TOP-10 By virtue of his impressive outing in the first two Tests against England, leg-spinner Pragyan Ojha has managed to hold on to his fifth position in the bowler’s chart even as no Indian featured in the top-10 batsmen list in the recently released ICC players rankings for Test matches. Ojha, who has taken 14 wickets from four innings, is placed fifth with 767 rating points in his kitty. No other Indian found a place in the top-10 bowlers chart, which is being headed by South Africa’s Dale Steyn, followed by Pak offspinner S Ajmal. AFP/ PTI
SNIPPETS Pietersen’s tweets in Hindi thanking Mumbai crowd MUMBAI: Kevin Pietersen (right), whose heroic knock of 186 played a huge part in England’s thumping 10-wicket victory against India in the second cricket Test, has a few good words to say about the Mumbai crowd. Pietersen posted a message in Hindi on his Twitter page to thank the crowd who gave him a standing ovation when he returned to the pavilion after his brilliant effort. “Dono teams ko support dene ke liye shukriya! Main chahta hoon kolkata aur nagpur mein agle do tests ke liye bhi aisa hi ho!”, Pietersen said on his Twitter account, and “Test wins have to be celebrated!” PTI
Ponting to captain PM’s XI against West Indies ADELAIDE: Ricky Ponting (below) was on Tuesday appointed captain of the Prime Minister’s XI to face the West Indies in January, suggesting his international career still has legs. The former Australia skipper, who turns 38 next month, has failed in three innings against South Africa during draws in Brisbane and Adelaide and pressure is building on the 167Test veteran. But he was named in the squad for Friday’s series decider in Perth and has been handed the Prime Minister’s captaincy, joining the likes of Sir Donald Bradman. AFP