Two new IPL franchises announced

Post a successful global Franchise Invitation to Tender process, the Indian Premier League (IPL) today unveiled the names of its two new official franchises for IPL 2011 next year. A fair and transparent bid process saw Sahara Adventure Sports and Rendezvous Sports World emerge winners for the exclusive franchise rights for the hottest sports league in the world.

The rights for the Pune franchise were won by the Sahara Adventure Sports - a part of the Sahara Group with a winning bid of USD 370 million, which was also the highest. Sahara had bid similar amounts for three cities namely Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Pune and finally selected Pune as the host city for the new franchise. The second winning bid was from a consortium named Rendezvous Sports World who won the Kochi franchise with a bid of USD 333 million. The level of interest in acquiring the two new franchises can be gauged by the fact that bids were received from five prospective franchises post an Invitation to Tender, including the Adani Group and VC Digital Solution (Videocon).

Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner, Indian Premier League said, "We are absolutely delighted by the overwhelming response to our global Franchise Invitation to Tender process. As you can see the bidding for the two new official Franchises has been fair and transparent and is indicative of the revenue earning potential that the Indian Premier League represents. I am also certain that the IPL fans in Kochi and Pune would be particularly excited with an IPL franchise for their respective cities. Given the high quality of franchises that we have selected, we are certain that both the new franchises will do everything in their power to ensure good competitive teams for next year. All the bids received were of a very high standard and we would like to thank all of the organisations for their participation."

On winning the Pune franchise Abhijit Sarkar of Sahara Adventure Sports said, "The IPL is undoubtedly the most ground breaking international sports development in living memory. There is no precedent for what has been achieved by Mr. Lalit Modi and the BCCI over the last three years and the Sahara group is immensely proud to have won the Invitation to Tender from Pune. I can promise the people of Pune – a team they will be proud of in next year’s IPL 2011. I would like to thank Mr. Modi and the BCCI-IPL for running a very transparent process to allocate the Franchises. All of us within Sahara Adventure Sports just cannot wait for IPL 2011 to commence."

Shailendra Gaikwad of Rendezvous World Sport further added, “We have closely been following every development within the Indian Premier League right from the inaugural year. Today, I am very happy for our consortium of Rendezvous World Sport and the people Kochi as we finally have a team to call our own in this amazing city based sports franchise”

For more information on all the action in IPL 2010 log onto - www.IPLT20.com - the official online destination of the league.

IPL standings after game 22

After 22 matches in this years IPL these are the standings. Our picks for the season were the Deccan Chargers and the Rajasthan Royals who are at present slugging it out in third and fourth place respectively.

Mumbai Indians 8 +1.167
Royal Challengers Bangalore 8 +0.961
Rajasthan Royals 6 -0.017
Deccan Chargers 6 -0.031
Delhi Daredevils 6 -0.618
Chennai Super Kings 4 -0.079
Kolkata Knight Riders 4 -0.851
Kings XI Punjab 2 -0

So has IPL 2010 caught your eye? Is it losing any of its "novelty" factor yet? I won't lie I haven't watched as much of it this year as I did last year and its been more of the quirky things like Matt Hayden and "The Mongoose" which has made the news.

Kemar Roach

Does anybody know much about this West Indian cricketer that's apparently making a bit of a name for himself at the Deccan Chargers?

Apparently he is quite quick!

Just looked him up on CricInfo - full profile here - I like this bit though: "He won admirers in Australia for his hostile pace and in one Test, forced Ricky Ponting to retire hurt. He was one of the top draws in the third IPL auction and was bought by Deccan Chargers for $720000"

I'm a fan of anybody who roughs up the odd Australian!

Two match ups in the IPL on Sunday

The Deccan Chargers take on the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League today and this is followed up by Chennai vs Kings XI Punjab.

Here are our selections for the Sunday match ups:

Match-up one selections:

• Deccan to win
• Deccan top batsman - Herschelle Gibbs
• Delhi top batsman – AB Devilliers

Match up two:

• Chennai to win
• Top Punjab batsman – Yufraj Singh
• Top Chennia batsman – Either Matt Hayden or Albie Morkel (12/1)

Happy punting!

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Some odd SA selections to say the least!

Earlier this week South Africa named a number of its shortlists for touring teams to do duty in some up-coming tours:

ICC World Twenty20 Squad (prov)
Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras, captain)
Jacques Kallis (Warriors, vice-captain)
Loots Bosman (Dolphins)
Johan Botha (Warriors)
Mark Boucher (Warriors)
AB de Villiers (Titans)
JP Duminy (Cape Cobras)
Herschelle Gibbs (Cape Cobras)
Justin Kemp (Cape Cobras)
Charl Langeveldt (Cape Cobras)
Ryan McLaren (Diamond Eagles)
Albie Morkel (Titans)
Morne Morkel (Titans)
Wayne Parnell (Warriors)
Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras)
Dale Steyn (Titans)
Rusty Theron (Warriors)
Roelof van der Merwe (Titans)

I'd be a little surprised if either Kemp or Morne Morkel made the final cut here... Kemp's 33 now and while age shouldn't be grounds for exclusion I'm not sure he adds much. Why not take somebody like Thami Tsolekile and an up and coming "skiddy" type bowler like Francois Plaatjies along?

ODI Squad for West Indies Tour
Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras, captain)
Jacques Kallis (Warriors, vice-captain)
Hashim Amla (Dolphins)
Loots Bosman (Dolphins)
Johan Botha (Warriors)
Mark Boucher (Warriors)
AB de Villiers (Titans)
JP Duminy (Cape Cobras)
Charl Langeveldt (Cape Cobras)
Ryan McLaren (Diamond Eagles)
Morne Morkel (Titans)
Wayne Parnell (Warriors)
Alviro Petersen (Highveld Lions)
Dale Steyn (Titans)
Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors)
Roelof van der Merwe (Titans)

Not much more you could have done with this side although I'm surprised that they are not giving more game time to a Mark Boucher backup of some description. I suspect the West Indies are going to get rolled again pretty much irrespective of what side we roll out - why not let some of the youngsters have a run? Should Duminy be there over a performing young batter like Vaughn van Jaarsveld or Steven Cook?

Test Squad for West Indies Tour
Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras, capt)
Jacques Kallis (Warriors, vice-capt)
Hashim Amla (Dolphins)
Johan Botha (Warriors)
Mark Boucher (Warriors)
AB de Villiers (Titans)
JP Duminy (Cape Cobras)
Paul Harris (Titans)
Ryan McLaren (Diamond Eagles)
Morne Morkel (Titans)
Wayne Parnell (Warriors)
Alviro Petersen (Highveld Lions)
Ashwell Prince (Warriors)
Dale Steyn (Titans)
Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors)

Again a similar question about whether or not Duminy should be there (on current form). I don't like Ryan Mclaren as a test cricketer but I seem to be in the minority here so I'll just mumble quietly under my breath...

IPL Season 3 betting

The third season of the T20 cricket bonanza that is the Indian Premier League (IPL) is on its way and it looks like quite an open season this year.

The pre-season odds as supplied by the team at World Sports Betting:

Delhi Daredevils – 3.5 / 1
Chennai Super Kings – 5/1
Deccan Chargers – 5/1
Bangalore Royal Challengers – 6/1
Mumbai Indians – 6/1
Kolkata Knight Riders – 7/1
Kings Xi Punjab – 7.5/1
Rajasthan Royals – 8/1

I am a Deccan Chargers fan so I’ve backed them and the Rajasthan Royals in this years competition.

The Chargers are a quality outfit and surprised that they are not favourites this year but I’ll take those odds thank you very much!

The Royals also surprised me that they were so far out of favour with the bookies. The side includes some quality T20 players including:

• Graeme Smith
• Shane Warne
• Morne Morkel
• Shaun Tait
• Yussuf Pathan
• Johan Botha

Suffice to say they are my outside bet but the Chargers remain my first pick. Bring on the IPL!

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IPL Fantasy League brought to you by Standard Bank - starts Fri 12 March

Rock Star Cricket scales up a notch as we move to the sub-continent for the next action-packed edition of the IPL tournament. With an exciting domestic Pro20 series drawing to a close, now is the time to select your Rock Star team of IPL superstars. Once again, we have some awesome cash prizes up for grabs thanks to Standard Bank. The first round of the IPL Fantasy League kicks off on Friday 12 March. Enter your team now at www.ultimatedreamteams.co.za/cricket

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