IPL commitments force New Zealand to cut Australia Test

New Zealand [ Images ] have shortened next year's home Test series against Australia [ Images ] to two matches to help alleviate scheduling conflicts with the lucrative Indian Premier League [ Images ] Twenty20 [ Images ] season.

Six senior New Zealand players, including captain Daniel Vettori [ Images ], delayed signing their contracts with New Zealand's cricket board until late July, after conflicts between the IPL and the team's international programme were clarified.

IPL player payments are made on a pro-rata basis, reducing the money paid to players when they miss parts of the tournament.

The Australians traditionally play three tests when touring their neighbours but New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said it had cut the series back to two tests due to the "compressed nature of the tour".

"Playing test cricket in New Zealand after the cessation of daylight saving and deep into the second week of April is not realistic," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said in a statement on Monday.

"Therefore our only option has been to limit the series to two tests."

LOSING MONEY

The abridged tour, concluding with the second Test finishing on March 31 at the latest, would allow New Zealand players to play in the final three weeks of the IPL competition running from March 12-April 25.

The IPL brought forward its own start date to ensure the tournament would be completed before the Twenty20 World Cup begins in the West Indies [ Images ] on April 30.

After protracted negotiations, New Zealand players signed NZC contracts despite standing to lose "significant" sums of money, the board said in July.

Vettori later told local media that players might not be so accommodating in future.

Australia's tour would also include two Twenty20 matches kicking off on Feb. 26, followed by five one-day internationals before the first Test starts in Wellington on March 13, NZC said.

New Zealand would also play an "away" three-Test series on home soil against Pakistan in November, after the tour was rescheduled and shifted for security reasons.

Bangladesh are also completing a short tour in February, prior to the Australia series, which includes three ODIs, a Twenty20 match and a Tes

Dhoni's men will look to break 'finals' jinx in SL

Having led India to many great victories since donning the captain's mantle, Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ Images ] has another chance to ink his name in the record books when the team begins the new season with the tri-series in Sri Lanka [ Images ].

India have the opportunity to clinch their first final in a multi-nation event in almost 11 years in the island nation when they take on the hosts and New Zealand [ Images ] in tri-series starting in Colombo on Tuesday, September 8.

India had last won the final of a major one-day event on Lankan soil in 1998 and then shared the rain-marred ICC [ Images ] Champions Trophy [ Images ] with the hosts in 2002.

The team rode on twin centuries from openers Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ] and Sourav Ganguly [ Images ], now retired, to defeat the home side, led by another ex-player Arjuna Ranatunga [Images ] and clinch the Singer-Akai Nidahas Trophy eleven years ago. Incidentally that tri-series also featured New Zealand.

Since then India have participated in five multi-national tournaments (excluding the abandoned Unitech Cup in 2006) but have failed to break the summit clash jinx.

They have finished on the losing side to the hosts on all other occasions.

Since winning the triangular event in 1998, India have taken part in 12 multinational ODI tournaments in the Indian sub-continent, barring the abandoned Unitech Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006. But their record in these finals has hardly been impressive.

The team emerged joint winners in two tournaments -- ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 and the 2003 TVS [ Get Quote ] [ Get Quote ] Cup in Bangladesh -- by sharing the top prize with Lanka and South Africa [ Images ] [ Images ] respectively.

On seven occasions, India have finished second-best, while crashing out of the tournament thrice in the league stage itself.

However, Dhoni's team has gradually gained a reputation of not being bogged down by history and past baggage, as is expected from a team that hit a purple patch with five consecutive bilateral ODI series triumphs.

What will boost the squad's morale further is that three of these five recent series triumphs have come against the two opponents it will face in the tri series.

India have not only defeated Sri Lanka in their own backyard twice in the past two years, but also humiliated the Kiwis in New Zealand earlier this year.

A win in the tri-series will not only add another feather to Dhoni's cap, but may also act as a balm for the cricket-mad fans who have not forgiven the team for its below-par display in the Twenty20 [ Images ] World Cup in England [ Images ] in June.

Sania, Leander and Mahesh advance

A profligate Somdev Devvarman squandered chances galore to crash out of US Open [ Images ] singles even as Sania Mirza [ Images ] advanced in the women's doubles and mixed doubles events at Flushing Meadows as Indians came out triumphant in all but one of their matches.

Sania and her Italian partner Francesca Schiavone, seeded 14th, survived a scare from unseeded Ekaterina Dzehalevich of Belarus and Czech Renata Voracova before recording a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 win to advance to the women's doubles second round.

Later Sania teaming up with Candian Daniel Nestor [ Images ] outplayed Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan and Ashley Fisher of Australia [ Images ] 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the mixed doubles.

Defending champions Leander Paes [ Images ] and Cara Black [ Images ] of Zimbabwe overcame a fighting unseeded pair of Swiss Patty Schnyder [ Images ] and South Africa's [ Images ] Wesley Moodie.

The second seeded Indo-Zimbawean pair tamed the unseeded opponents 6-4, 3-6, 11-9 in the first round of mixed doubles.

Third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi [ Images ] and Mark Knowles [ Images ] cruised to the men's doubles second round after scoring a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over American James Cerretani and Lovro Zovko of Croatia.

Meanwhile Somdev, who was trailing by two sets, staged a dramatic comeback by blanking 23rd seed German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third set but eventually lost his second round encounter 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 2-6 after a close to three-hour battle last night.

With Somdev's defeat, Indian challenge ended in the singles events.

Sania is already out of singles after suffering one of the worst defeats of her career in the second round against Italian friend Flavia Pennetta [ Images ].

Defeated Devvarman looks on bright side

Somdev Devvarman [ Images ] was shown the exit door in the second round of the US Open [ Images ] on Thursday but the Indian preferred to look on the bright side of his experience at Flushing Meadows.

"It was my fourth slam attempt and the first one that I actually qualified for and that's a breakthrough in some ways," Devvarman told reporters after his 6-3, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 defeat by 23rd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany [ Images ].

"Actually coming through winning a match and giving a good fight to Philipp," he said, continuing with his upbeat check list. "I had chances. He played better and came out and won today but I still know that I had chances and that is good.

"Just having that experience, and having these matches on my back now is something I can draw from when I play in the future. Hopefully I can use this experience to get better."

Devvarman, twice a US college singles champion at the University of Virginia, beat Frederico Gil of Portugal in the opening round to notch a first for India as he and Sania Mirza [ Images ] became the first man and woman to reach the second round at the same grand slam.

The 24-year-old Devvarman, who was runner-up in his hometown tournament in Chennai in January, hopes he can be part of a resurgence in Indian tennis.

"It's very important to me," he said. "I feel that I have a great opportunity right now coming from such a great country and such great sport traditions.

"There are a lot of sports enthusiasts and they want you to do well. Hopefully I can take all of that energy and try and make the best of it."

Devvarman, ranked 162, knows he has a long way to go.

"I'm trying to get better, trying to learn. It's my first season on the tour. It's a new place, it's different from college. I'm working hard and taking the right steps.

"You want to improve every single thing you do. Overall I'd like to get stronger, faster, hit the ball harder, serve bigger. Hopefully I'll be able to do all those things."

Mirza, battling back from a debilitating wrist injury, also lost her second-round match on Wednesday but Devvarman has faith in her tennis future, too.

"She's awesome," he said. "We've been friends since juniors. She's recovering from injury, but she's a great player. I'm sure she's going to bounce back. She's going to be great and is a great hope for India."

Ponting, Flintoff approached to be CL T20 commentator

Australian captain Ricky Ponting [ Images ] and talismanic England [ Images ] all-rounder Andrew Flintoff [ Images ] may be seen in the new role of a commentator in the upcoming Champions League [ Images ] Twenty20 [ Images ] cricket tournament.

Both the star players have been approached by the Champions League organisers to be expert commentators during the tournament to be held at three different venues in India from October 8-23.

"We have approached Flintoff and Ponting to be commentators during the tournament. As great cricketers themselves, they will certainly add a lot of value," a Champions League source said.

Flintoff, who recently retired from Test cricket and has undergone a keyhole surgery on his knee, has not yet confirmed whether he can take up the assignment.

"We are looking at a mix of new and old commentators. Since the Champions League is a new tournament which is eagerly awaited by the fans, we are looking to bring some new faces in the commentary team," the source said.

The commentary team for the tournament, to be held in Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, has not yet been finalised.

ESPN STAR Sports are the commercial and broadcast right holders of the USD six million tournament which will see 12 top Twenty20 teams from various countries taking part.

The tournament will feature three Indian teams -- IPL 2009 winner the Deccan Chargers [ Images ], runners-up Royal Challengers [ Images ] Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils [ Images ], which topped the league phase.

Other teams in the fray are Victorian Bushrangers and New South Wales Blues from Australia [ Images ], Cape Cobras and Diamond Eagles from South Africa [ Images ], Sussex and Somerset from England, Otago Volts from New Zealand [ Images ], Trinidad and Tobago from West Indies [ Images ] and Wayamba from Sri Lanka [ Images ].

The inaugural edition of the event was originally scheduled last year but was called off following the Mumbai terror attacks [ Images ].

BCCI affiliates want IMG fees reduced

Cricket Board's affiliates want a reduction in the Rs 33 crore fee payable to the International Management Group for services rendered in conducting this year's Indian Premier League [ Images ] in South Africa [ Images ], according to BCCI sources.

"A fee reduction in the range of Rs 7 or 8 crore is what the members want," sources told PTI.

The 25 associations affiliated to the Board are set to get Rs eight crore each as their share of the IPL spoils and apparently want an increase in this amount.

The Board snapped ties with the IMG after the 2009 tournament with secretary N Srinivasan citing the charges payable as "disproportionate" to the services rendered by the sports management firm in his letter of termination.

IMG's Senior Vice President Andrew Wildblood refuted Srinivasan's views in his reply to the Board and said the ten-year contract signed between the two parties in September 2007 was binding.

The IPL's Governing Council met here yesterday and authorised BCCI President Shashank Manohar to resolve the issue with IMG and report to the Board's AGM on September 24.

Former BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar [ Images ] had played a key role in the IPL authorities assigning Manohar the task of negotiating with IMG when the duo met on the eve of the Governing Council meeting, the sources indicated.

Pawar, in his capacity as the Mumbai [ Images ] Cricket Association president, had also written a letter to Manohar questioning the decision of the BCCI to snap ties with IMG, making it clear that the contract with IMG was approved at all "appropriate levels" during his tenure as the Board president.

The Union Minister also warned that the Board would be inviting a long-drawn legal battle and its public image would be affected by such actions.

Seven out of the eight franchisees also supported IMG in the spat with BCCI in the run-up to the IPL meeting, the lone exception being Chennai Super Kings [ Images ] owned by Srinivasan.

Monza should be very good for Force India

Giancarlo Fisichella's weekend at Spa didn't give him his first Pole position, his first podium, his first points or even his career best result. But standing in the paddock and watching his body language, there was absolutely no doubt that this weekend was the most satisfying result he has had in his career.

To qualify at the front and then race hard to earn a podium finish, less than a second behind one of the three World champions on the grid driving a car from the most iconic Formula 1 [ Images ] team in history, was a tremendous result for Fisi.

But, more importantly, it was an absolutely monumental achievement for Force India [Images ]. Apart from Brawn GP showing up at Melbourne [ Images ] and walking away with the first race of the year, this has to be the shock result of the season thus far.

It's easy to forget that it was only two years ago that the team called Spyker was cemented on the back row of the grid and to turn that around into a team getting a podium on merit in such a short space of time is hugely impressive. It really is a great testament to all the engineers, designers and people back at the factory who have worked away on a smaller budget than most teams but have channelized their creativity in a very positive way.

After qualifying, a lot of people came to say well done to Vijay Mallya [ Images ] and the team but you could clearly sense their doubt in whether Fisi would be able to stay at the front. When the fuel weights came out, the expressions around the paddock -- admittedly, myself included -- was one of total surprise that the Force India had a very comparable fuel load, indicating genuine front running pace.

On Saturday night, a few of us went for a quiet dinner and Vijay asked me what I thought about the race the following day. I told him I reckoned third or fourth place was on because clearly Raikkonen and the KERS car were going to come through the pack but also Jarno Trulli [ Images ] in the Toyota [ Images ] looked very quick… I was partly right.

Trulli was out of contention after the first lap incident but Kimi and the KERS powered Ferrari [ Images ] would have been very hard to hold off even without the safety car.

It's a great feelgood story. As humans, we love to see the underdogs succeed and it was fantastic to see the entire paddock appreciate the team's result. Points and podiums are worth a lot of prize money to the Formula 1 teams and this will be very valuable for them.

Is this a sign of things to come? Spa is a lower-downforce, high speed track that clearly suited Force India better than most others.

Monza next time out should be very good for them as the team do seem to have fantastic straight-line speed and Singapore after that should be reasonably good as well, as the team have always been competitive on street circuits.

It's certainly a car I would love to drive in the next 5 races

'This unilateral move will put the BCCI in jeopardy'

Former BCCI President Sharad Pawar [ Images ] has questioned the Cricket Board on its decision to "unilaterally" terminate IMG's services in future IPLs and warned that it would invite a long-drawn legal war as well as harm their public image.

Pawar, in a letter to his successor Shashank Manohar, made it clear that the 10-year contract with IMG was approved at all appropriate levels during his tenure as the Board president till September 2008.

Pawar's letter has given a big boost to IMG ahead of the IPL's Governing Council meeting here today in which the matter is expected to come up for discussion.

"I am very disturbed to hear about the termination of IMG contract by the honorary secretary, BCCI.

Reading the contents of the termination, I feel that this unilateral move by the BCCI will put the BCCI in jeopardy," Pawar said in the letter written as the Mumbai [ Images ] Cricket Association President.

"Not only will this lead to a prolonged legal battle but it will also show us in bad light in public," said Pawar, who is also the chairman of the 2011 Central Organising Committee of the World Cup.

BCCI snapped ties with the IMG citing the members of its Working Committee were of the opinion that the latter was overcharging the Board.

IMG received close to Rs 43 crore for IPL 1 held in 2008 and is set to receive Rs 33 crore for this year's IPL 2 held in South Africa [ Images ].

"I always believed that the Board believes in continuity and undoing what was done consciously and in the best interests of Indian cricket is neither desirable nor appropriate," Pawar said.

Pawar also said such actions would jeopardise the investments of other stakeholders in the IPL and hoped that Manohar and the other BCCI officials would take the correct decision in the overall interest of the Board.

"In IPL there are many stakeholders and as such anything we do that may jeopardise their investments will show BCCI in a bad light. With the overwhelming success of the IPL it is our duty to protect not only BCCI but also its stakeholders".

He also informed that franchise owner Mukesh Ambani [ Images ] had sent him a letter on the issue.

"I got some calls and letters from stakeholders. I am attaching a letter which I received from Shri Mukesh Ambani. I want to bring on record my views and I hope you and the BCCI will take the right decision in the overall interest of BCCI."

'I am looking forward to match against India'

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi [ Images ] is looking forward to play against India in the Champions Trophy [ Images] in South Africa [ Images ] where his side had not beaten their neighbours in an ICC [ Images ] tournament in recent years.

Afridi said he has a lot of respect for India which had a very good One-day combination and the match between the two arch rivals should produce fireworks.

"India are a strong side and our present team is also well balanced and has depth so we should have a good match. I am looking forward to it," he told reporters in Lahore [ Images ].

"The rivalry and intensity of playing against each other is always there. It does not matter who wins or loses. What is important is I want to play with passion and aggression and I expect our players to show 100 per cent commitment," he added.

Pakistan lost their 2003 World Cup match to India at the Centurion and were twice beaten in the 2007 Twenty20 [Images ] World Cup in South Africa.

"I think our team is very experienced and balanced and we can do well in South Africa and try to change our past record there," Afridi said.

He said Pakistan have some good players particularly like Muhammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik [ Images ] and Misbah-ul-Haq.

"Although Malik and Misbah have recently not scored many runs but they are quality players and they have played some brilliant innings in the past. So I am expecting them to do well in Champions Trophy. It will add a lot of depth to our batting if they click," he said.

Pak players will play in IPL 2010

Cricket board chief Ejaz Butt is optimistic that the Pakistani players will feature in next year's Indian Premier League [ Images ].

"I'm pretty confident that the Pakistani players will be able to play in IPL next year," the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman told Geo News.

He, however, made it clear that PCB would have to seek government clearance before allowing the players to sign up with IPL franchises.

Pakistani players were unable to take part in this year's IPL in South Africa [ Images ] after the Foreign Ministry had advised the PCB not to send the players to India, original venue of the league, because of tensions between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks [ Images ].

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry issued its advice before the IPL was moved from India to South Africa for security reasons.

Meanwhile, commenting on the sacking of Saleem Altaf as the Chief Operating Officer of the board, Butt claimed he had no personal differences with the former player.

"I had no differences with Saleem Altaf. It is nothing personal. I followed a decision of the Governing council which wanted the Chief Operating Officer changed," he said.

Butt said that a new COO would be appointed soon after the approval of the governing council.