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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st March 2014
IPL all set to shift to South Africa
Indian Premier League is all set to shift to South Africa as the government is not able to provide security for T20 event in view of the general elections. Five years ago also the matches were shifted to South Africa for the same reasons. This time the last part of the matches may be brought back to India. IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal told all eight franchises that the tournament will move to the African nation but return to the country on May 10 or 11 after the elections are over. “After the meeting with home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, one thing was certain that holding IPL during general elections was not feasible. Now, out of the alternative options that BCCI has for hosting tournament, South Africa looks the most promising. We have been told that final dates of IPL-7 will only be announced after we come to know the dates for general elections,” Delhi Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua said. Sources close to the
development said that all the franchises are keen to host at least part of the tournament in India in order to minimise the loss of revenue. “We have been informed that the tournament in all likelihood will be back in the country around May 10 or 11. It will ensure that the business end of the tournament will be held in front of the teams’ home crowds,” one of the franchise owners said. Asked whether the later stages of the IPL
could be staged in the country, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said, “100 per cent, they can be held”. As the present scenario goes, IPL-7 is now most likely to be played in SA between April and May. The exact schedule will be announced at the end of this month. “All franchises are okay with the idea of shifting the IPL to SA. They have a good idea how popular it turned out to be when it was hosted there the last time,” a source said.
The window kept aside for IPL this year is also huge - from April 9 to June 3 - a total of 55 days whereas the tournament - with only eight teams this year -needs a maximum window of just around 40 days to be completed. For Cricket South Africa, IPL shifting there should come as a huge shot in the arm considering the revenue potential it brings along. The possibility of BCCI having dangled the IPL carrot to CSA in return for their support for the ICC revamp also cannot be ruled out. However, sources said that it was only after the Union ministry's refusal to grant security that the Indian cricket board decided to take the step. The IPL governing council as well as the BCCI working committee is supposed to meet in Bhubaneswar on February 28 where a final decision on the issue will be made.
sion as none of the other batsmen reached double figures. The result left the three-match series level at 1-1 with the third Test starting in CapeTown on Saturday. After JP Duminy had removed Warner and Morne Morkel grabbed the wicket of Alex Doolan (five), Shaun Marsh picked up a pair in the match and now has six ducks in his last 11 Tests.
T h e n began the S t e y n onslaught as Clarke (one) was brilliantly caught by Faf duPlessis at second slip and Steve Smith trapped lbw first ball. That wicket showed evidence of reverse swing and Steyn produced more as he clattered into the middle stump of Brad Haddin (one) for the second time in the match. Mitchell Johnson was the fourth lbw victim of the innings when he was struck on the pads by Philander. Ryan Harris (six)was also trapped in front of the
stumps but the key moment came when, with just seven minutes remaining in the day’s play, Rogers was run out trying to take a quick single to substitute fielder Alviro Peterson. Nathan Lyon (zero) was the final wicket to fall, lbw to Dean Elgar and although replays showed he had hit the ball, Australia had used up their reviews. South Africa earlier declared their second innings on 270 for five as Hashim Amla plundered an unbeaten 127, his 21st test century to move joint third on South Africa’s alltime list with Gary Kirsten, still behind Graeme Smith (27) and Jacques Kallis (45).
again focusing the nation’s attention on curling - a sport which captured the country’s attention 12 years ago when Britain’s women won gold at the
Salt Lake City games. O n F r i d a y morning the country saw four broomwielding S c o t s attempt to clinch gold on the ice. The quartet secured at least silver thanks to Murdoch’s last gasp heroics in a thrilling contest with Sweden. Murdoch had one delivery which would have
made or broken his Olympic dream. With his Swedish opposition bound to win if he blew his shot and with his “heart pounding like mad”, Murdoch’s granite rock curled perfectly into the centre of his target - the “house” - sending his team-mates and a small, noisy group of fans into ecstasy. It was the second time in two days he has clinched victory with the final stone when he held his nerve to defeat the Norwegian team in identical fashion.
Steyn leads SA to crushing win over Aussies
Dale Steyn produced a ferocious spell of fast bowling to inspire South Africa to a crushing 231run victory over Australia in fading light on Day Four of the second Test at Port Elizabeth on Sunday. With rain predicted for Monday, Steyn charged in and took four wickets, including the key scalp of Australia captain Michael Clarke, as the tourists lost 10 wickets for 90 runs having looked comfortable at 126 without loss chasing a record 448 for victory. Only opener Chris Rogers showed any real resistance with a fine 107, this third ton in four Tests, as he shared a century opening stand with David Warner (66), but for the remainder it was a proces-
Murdoch wins Olympics medal in curling
David Murdoch, a farmer’s son who witnessed the horror of the Lockerbie bombing, is ready to make an emotional return to his home town with an Olympic medal he won in the Winter Games’ most hypnotic sport, curling. With one beautifully delivered stone along the ice which found its target with precision under the utmost pressure, the 35year old sealed his team’s place and guaranteed that this is now Britain’s best Winter Games since 1936. He also succeeded in once
Kallis to be honored during Newlands Test
Former Proteas great Jacques Kallis will be honored by South Africa's Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula during the third Test between South Africa and Australia to be played at Newlands in Cape Town. According to Sport24, the WPCA said the tribute would be paid on the second day of the final test against Australia, which will run from March 1-5. Speculation is also rife about a stand at Newlands being named after Kallis, but a decision is yet to be taken officially on this. Kallis played 166 Test matches, scoring 13,289 runs in an illustrious career spanning 18 years for South Africa.
Windies end Irish hopes of history
Ireland's flirtation with cricketing history came to a disappointing end in Kingston's Sabina Park when they lost their second Twenty20 international with the West Indies.Victory, following a famous sixwicket win on the same ground earlier in the week, would have given the Irish a first series win over a Test-playing nation.But the West Indies drew on all their experience to win by 11 runs, hitting 96 for nine off their 20 overs after Ireland had won the toss and put them into bat, and then restricting the Irish to 85 for eight in theirs.Gary Wilson led Ireland's run chase with a brave 35 from 39 balls after they had slumpoed to 25 for four and he moved them on to 72 for seven before being caught and bowled by Dwayne Bravo.So, having gone so close, the Irish, coached by former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons, had to settle for a draw in the two-match series.It was at the Kingston venue where Ireland dramatically defeated Pakistan in a St Patrick's Day 50-over World Cup match back in 2007.West Indies and Ireland meet again in a oneoff one-day international at the same ground on Sunday, the last match of the Irish tour.Next month sees the West Indies defend their global title at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh - a tournament where Ireland's first match is a St Patrick's Day clash against Zimbabwe on March 17.
Saina seeded 7th at All England
Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal has been seeded seventh in the $400,000 All England Open Badminton Championships to be held in Birmingham from March 4-9. The World No.7 is the only Indian who has been seeded in the prestigious Super Series Premier tournament which will host its 104th edition at the National Indoor Arena. Saina, whose best performance at All England have been two semifinal appearances in 2010 and 2013, will open her campaign against Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland. The Hyderabadi could have a possible meeting with 18-year-old P.V. Sindhu in the semifinals. The World Championship bronze medallist will open her round against Yu Sun of China. Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth are the only two Indians to have got direct entry into the main draw of men's singles. There are no other Indians currently in the main draws of any of the five categories. However, a host of Indians will be vying for the main draw by participating in the qualifiers.