CSA, CA chiefs invited for final; to discuss clt20
New Delhi: The BCCI will discuss the fate of Champions league T20 with the Presidents of Cricket South Africa and Cricket Australia, who have been extended special invitations to watch the May 24 IPl final at the Eden Gardens. CSA chief Chris Nenzani, CEO Haroon lorgat along with CA supremo Wally Edwards and his chief executive James Sutherland have been invited by BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and secretary Anurag Thakur for the marquee event. lorgat’s invitation is also an interesting move as the former ICC Chief Executive didn’t share a smooth working relationship with the previous regime in Indian cricket. The invitations sent across to Edwards and Nenzani is significant as the two heads are set to engage in an important discussion with Dalmiya and Thakur regarding the fate of Champions league T20. “Yes, we have invited the board presidents and CEOs of South Africa and Australia for the IPl final in Kolkata and on the sidelines of this match, we will discuss the future of Champions league T20 with them,” Thakur said on Saturday. It must be noted that BCCI, CA and CSA are the stakeholders in Champions league T20. Invitations had also been sent to top officials of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri lankan cricket boards. On Friday, IPl chairman Rajeev Shukla had said that there were plans to scrap the Champions league T20.
D/l method needs to be looked at: moody
Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody has expressed unhappiness at the way the target for Royal Challengers Bangalore was revised under Duckworth/lewis method in their rain-interrupted IPl cricket match and said that the system “needs to be looked at”. “We had to play regardless of the weather. Because, one point made no difference to us and still disillusioned how D/l method comes up with the numbers that they come up with. When you score a total in 11 overs, you face three powerplay overs, then you have a rain interruption and you have to defend with six overs with two powerplay overs,” Moody said at the post match press conference on Saturday night. “I am not anyone, but it has been talked about for a fair period of time. Personally, I feel that it (D/l method) definitely needs to be looked at; because, there is an imbalance there. You don’t want rain interruption period. You also don’t want skewed games with huge disadvantage like that,” Moody said. After a delayed start due to rain, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 135 for 3 in 11 overs. But the target for RCB was revised to 81 from six overs after their run chase was also delayed by rain. A superlative performance of 35 runs in just 10 balls by Chris Gayle and unbeaten 44 runs in 19 balls by captain Virat Kohli helped Bangalore to score a six wicket victory with one ball remaining under D/l method. Moody said each and every player of his side has done his best under the circumstances in the match. “I am not going to apportion blame to any particular player. I thought every player did their very best under the circumstances,” he said. Replying to a query, Moody said it is always a challenge, especially in a six-over contest, to deal with the top three batsmen that Bangalore have got — captain Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and A B de Villiers. Meanwhile, RCB coach Danier Vettori was pleased with his team’s win as its keeps the team in contention for a play-off berth. “To get a win in a pressure situation, it is always satisfying,” he said. Appreciating the effort made by Sunrisers Hyderabad team to make a challenging total of 135/3 in 11 overs, he felt that the reduction in target due to rain probably helped his team. “It probably did work in our favour, the reduction (in target).”
SRK watches KKR game in Mumbai after three years
Hyderabad: Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday watched an IPl game involving Kolkata Knight Riders, of which he’s a co-owner, from inside a stadium here for the first time after 2012. Shah Rukh was banned for five years by the Mumbai Cricket Association following a ruckus he created after a game between Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. He has not entered MI’s home venue since that day in May 2012 to watch a game and was not present two nights ago when the title holders lost a nerve-wracking match against the Rohit Sharma-led side by five runs. However, with the Cricket Club of India’s Brabourne Stadium, Rajasthan Royals home venue, hosting the make-or-break game, the actor got a chance to see his team in action from the stands. AGENCIES