Dark clouds hover over the future of IPL9 matches scheduled in Maharashtra

The state of Maharashtra is in the grip of a severe drought and the huge amount of water needed to make the cricket pitches match ready is something that the state can ill afford. Therefore, the Bombay High Court has taken to task India's cricket board for its "criminal wastage" of water to maintain cricket pitches in drought-hit Maharashtra. As a result, there is a large dark cloud over the fate of the 20 matches scheduled in the state during IPL9.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 7 April 2016.

The bench rapped both the BCCI and Mumbai, Maharashtra and Vidharbha Cricket Associations while hearing two public interest pleas that want all IPL matches shifted out of the state this year. The Court has suggested that the IPL matches scheduled in Maharashtra should be sifted to some other state where water is in abundance.

By taking on BCCI for holding #IPL9 in drought-hit Maharashtra, HC has shown it cares https://t.co/0hbdHtwQWJ pic.twitter.com/wKuPKCzill

— FirstpostSports (@FirstpostSports) April 7, 2016

The preparation of the cricket pitches for the 20 IPL matches in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur could entail use of more than 65 lakh litres of water. The Mumbai Cricket Association counsel indicated that the Wankhede Stadium was expected to use over 40 lakh litres for its seven IPL matches.
IPL chairperson Rajiv Shukla had publicly dismissed any possibility of shifting the IPL matches. His contention is that a sport like cricket needs very little water as compared to farmers who need huge amounts of water.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Ban on CSK and RR forces BCCI to explore options to retain 8-team format in IPL

#BCCI #CSK #RR #IPL #LodhaCommittee IPL, the high profile cricket extravaganza, is a money making machine and, with the ban imposed on the two topmost teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals because of allegations of spot fixing, the 8-team format would have to work on a 6-team format unless a solution is worked out.
Therefore, top officials of BCCI are busy working out a contingency plan to ensure that the high-profile league remains an eight-team affair. This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 15 July 2015.

An emergency IPL Governing Council meeting is being scheduled and officials have already started informal discussion on how to circumvent the obstacle. BCCI wants to ensure that the cash-rich league remains an eight-team tournament as per the terms of contract with the broadcasters -- Multi Screen Media -- envisages a 60-match schedule.
Therefore, IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla, and BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya will meet in Kolkata to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice R M Lodha committee verdict.
One of the options available is that BCCI can take over and run the two teams for two years. Once the ban is lifted after two years, the original owners can come back. A second option is to invite fresh bids for two new teams because many corporate houses have expressed an interest in buying an IPL team.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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M S Dhoni retires from Test Cricket – will play in ODIs and T20s

#DhoniRetires #BCCI #Musharaff #helicoptershot The news of the day is that Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of Indian cricket team, has announced his retirement from the Test cricket format of the game but would continue to play in the shorter versions namely – the ODIs and T20s.
33-year-old Dhoni had made his debut in 2005 and was captain for 60 of his 90 Tests and has finally quit after India drew the third Test against Australia. In his own words, he has retired from Tests "in order to concentrate" on the 50 over and Twenty20 formats. India's one-day 2015 cricket World Cup defense would be taking off in February.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has accepted his decision and called him "one of India's greatest Test captains".
Forbes has rated Dhoni as the fifth richest sportsman in the world. His annual brand value is of £12.9 million and he had taken over as Test captain from Anil Kumble in 2008. That was after leading India to the inaugural World Twenty20 title in 2007.
He had arrived on the scene with a bang and while watching him play, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had made commented on his hairstyle.... ‘you should get a haircut, but if you take my advice, you look good in this hairstyle….’ Dhoni has also created a unique helicopter shot that has seen India win many games.
He has played 90 Tests and scored 4876 runs for India and, as far as statistics go, he can claim to be the most successful wicketkeeper batsman of all time. He has effected 294 dismissals as a 'keeper, which is comfortably the most by an Indian and 5th best in the history of Test cricket. He is also India's most successful Test captain – he has 27 wins. 15 draws and 18 losses in the tests with him as captain.