Quotes from IPL!

Several people involved in IPL has come out with key information about themselves, their teams, or about other things that are happening in the cricketing world. The information comes out from players, coaches, managers, spokes person, organizers, spectators, etc. Enjoy reading them!

Duminy, Player, Mumbai Indians: Facing Lee will be a difficult proposition.

B McCullum, Captain, Kolkata Knight Riders: We get our batting going well and our bowling and fielding let us down. We get out bowling right and our batting lets us down.

Jay Rennings, Coach, Royal Challengers: If everybody can have an attitude like Anil Kumble, then this world will be a better place.

Irfan Pathan, on brother Yusuf Pathan: I won't let Yusuf do well against us.

Yogaraj Singh, Father of Yuvaraj, Captain KXI: Bishen is keen on working on Yuvaraj's bowling. I and Bishen had a chat and once Yuvi returns, we will see how to proceed. I firmly believe if the release of the ball is from 6 feet above, Yuvaraj can become a lethal bowler.

Anil Kumble, Captain, RC: We certainly have got better from the last game adn agaisnt Kings XI the intensity was brilliant. It showed in our batting and bowling. We are improving in every game and we hope the winning streak continues.

Gayle, KKR Batsman: One Win can change the tournament for us.

McCullum, Captain of KKR: If we don't make the semifinals then I am more than happy to step aside. To me it's about accountability as a captain.

Karan Goel, KXI Player: Iam expecting to learn a lot. Playing with and against experienced palyers who have played in Test and international matches will boost my confidence.

In a Blog: Players luv the blog. Yesterday, after the match each and every player read it, including yours truly :-). Apparently, players of all teams are reading it. Appam ***tiya's name is now cast in stone as his own players are also calling him that. (from Times of India paper)

Johan Botha, South African Player: There were two or three IPL teams interested in my services, buy they could not offer me a contract because of this issue--faulty action.

Jacques Kallis, RC Player: The guys have learnt a lot from last year. We have got a structure in place. Now the guys know their roles and what they are going to do. It's half the battle won in knowing our roles.

Lalit Modi, IPL Commissioner: Some players feel one way and others feel the other--about strategy breaks. We will evolve over the time. Some players want two-minute breaks like in America. We are going to test it out and see.

Sharukh Khan, KKR Owner: I don't fight with girls. I am too old for that, but my son can. I can only love, hug and kiss them.

Ray Jennings, RC Coach: Robin is keen to keep wickets and we have been working on it. It's a message to Dhoni to be careful because Robin is going to take his position in the Indian side.

Duminy, MI Batsman: Rankings, ratings and statistics are nice to know but they should never really affect a professional sportsman. I am humbled by the accolades, but I still have a lot to learn.

M Muralitharan, CSK Bowler: I am happy with my performance. But Haydos deserved the man of the match award, his 65 set up the total and put pressure on the opposition.

Pietersen, RC Captain: When a genius batted like that you cannot do much. Hayden's innings set up the match for them. (On the match against CSK which RC lost it)

B McCullum, KKR Captain: It was tough for everyone except Chris Gayle. When he hits the ball as well as he did today, no ground is big enough for him. (About Gayle)

Yuvaraj, KXI Captain: Duckworth-Lewis gives the team batting second the advantage in these situations.

IPL Moves to South Africa!

After visiting both England and South Africa, Lalit Modi, The Commissioner of IPL has decided that South Africa is the best option for second season of IPL.

Though so many players expressed shock and disappointed over the move, IPL committee is clear that they did not have any other option for ensuring the continuity of the event.

After the decision to move out of India was taken, two alternate venues were considered--England and South Africa.

Though both the countries had their own positives and negatives, finally South Africa edged out England and was chosen as the venue for the 2nd season of IPL.

The decision was made after a meeting between the IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, and the Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive, Gerald Majola, in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The matches will commence on April 18, which is one week later than the original schedule.

IPL Moves out of India, becomes International Premier League!

The IPL and BCCI have decided to move the IPL out of India. It may be moved to either England or South Africa. Both the countries are ready to host the game but the decision will be out today.

With the government not ready to provide security for the revised schedule proposed by IPL committee, there is no option except to move it out. Postponing the event would mean huge loss for IPL, franchises, advertisers, sponsors.

Lalit Modi, the Commissioner of IPL said, "It's a tough decision in my life." He also requested not to politize the issue and said that he will not blame anybody for this.

The schedule remains the same, but the logistics has to be worked out like travel, TV rights, etc.

IPL is Doubtful, not yet confirmed!

The the revised schedule was submitted to the government by the IPL committee, most of the states are hesitant about agreeing to the event. They are not comfortable with the dates as they are not sure about the security.

Though the commissioner of IPL, Lalit Modi has categorically said that IPL is responsible for security, the state cheifs are still hesitant about providing security.

Only Delhi has confirmed as the venue and the rest of the venues are yet to confirm.

Though cricket is important, I think it is the country first and every individiual has the right to know and in fact mandatory to know who is going to lead the country. So, election should come first and not the sport.

IPL Responsible for Security - Modi!

Teh IPL Commissioner has committed that the security for the second seasion of the IPL is the responsibility of IPL. With too many things going on in the cricketing world--terrorist attack in Mumbai during England's tour to India, terrorist attack against the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, created panic everywhere.

The cricket players like Flintoff, Oram are worried about the security.

Security is paramount for us. Players, officials and fans are all very important. Players' security was the responsibility of the teams last year but this time we have gone venue by venue managing the security centrally. Of course, we will coordinate with the teams," Modi said.

"From the minute a (foreign) player lands here to the minute he leaves India. From the minute an Indian players enters the hotel to the minute he leaves, we will be managing the security. It's a cumbersome template that was used during the India-England Test series last year.’’

"That was a rigorous plan put in place, shared with the government and the international board, in that case the England and Wales Cricket Board," he added.

"Security (budget) will be 10 times more than last year," he said.

He further added that "no foreign player has so far contacted the IPL to say that he is apprehensive. They have never been uncomfortable about coming here. India is not Pakistan, we are a safe country."

India is not same as Pakistan, Don't Compare - Lalit Modi!

The chairman of Indian Premier League, the next famous T20 to the world cup, said that the cricketing world should not compare India and Pakistan. The situations are different.

"We are a very safe country. You are sitting here, I am sitting here, we all are sitting here. We are not Pakistan. I really see no concern," he said to reporters on Tuesday.

"Let's not liken the situation in another country to be the same as our country," added Modi. He further said, "after the Mumbai blasts, we still had games in Chennai (and Mohali)."

Though few players like Kevin from England, Jacob Oram from New Zealand, and few South African players are hesitant to join the IPL season 2, Lalit Modi is still confident that the event will happen with proper security.

IPL Players can earn more in 2nd season!

The IPL had put a cap of $five million (just over Rs 20 crore) for the franchises this year to prevent the very rich team owners from over indulge too much.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is planning to scrap the $5 million cap on the players' salaries from next season. This could see top cricketers earn as much as a whopping $15 million (Rs 61 crore approx).

"If we hadn't done that, I can tell you that our players would already be the highest-paid across any sport in the world," IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi was quoted as saying in 'The Daily Telegraph'.

"It will happen - if not today, then tomorrow. Because once the franchises have established themselves, it will be a free-for-all," he added.

The report stated some leading Australian cricketers like Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee can expect a several-fold hike in their pays when they go back to play the next season after their short stints this time.

Indian ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who fetched the maximum bidding price of Rs 6 crore this season, reportedly told a senior Australian player last week that extraordinary contracts of up to $14-15 million were likely to be introduced by the next season.

"From what I have heard, some of the stuff (payments) this year could be just the tip of the iceberg," Hayden said.