Dhoni backs struggling Yuvraj for SA tour

November 26, 2013

Dhoni_backs_YuvrajVisakhapatnam, Nov 26: Yuvraj Singh is struggling a wee bit and seems to be a pale shadow of his older self. The southpaw has not been among runs in the ODI series against Australia and the West Indies and that has cast doubts about his ability to hold a place in the Indian team for long. However, skipper MS Dhoni feels that it's only a matter of time before the strapping batsman hits form. Dhoni spoke about a few issues after the second ODI on Sunday night.

Yuvraj's lack of form

Yuvi is not having a really good time out in the middle but it happens to any player. He has struggled a bit in the couple of games but we want him to get back to form. He is a very aggressive batsman who can be really destructive when in form. He is a very experienced player and the stats show that he is a match-winner. We want him to get some runs under his belt and regain his confidence so that the pressure is off his back.

The No.4 puzzle

We are trying different combinations to see which works better. Yuvi has got a lot of his runs batting at No. 4, but he has been a bit off key. In the Australian series, he was not getting too much time to settle down. If you look at the stats, he was getting out quite early. Hence, we thought of sending him at No.4 in this series. Raina has done well at No.5 and he is always an option for the No.4 spot.

Not using Yuvi the bowler

If we need him to bowl, we will definitely use him. We need to see what works for the team on a given day. We used Raina today as we felt he had a better chance against the left-handers in the West Indian team. We have a left-arm spinner in Jadeja and Yuvi is always there as a back-up option.

Losing momentum

Yes we lost a bit of momentum as a couple of wickets fell but we made up for it at the end. Their best bowler Sunil Narine was bowling at that time and we wanted to make sure that we don't give him any wickets. We not only succeeded in it but also put up 288 which is a very competitive score. In a day game, it would have been like chasing 400 on this wicket.

Looking ahead to Kanpur

It's a day game and there will be no dew factor. But we need to take positives from each game. In this game, I feel the bowlers did a extremely remarkable job in taking the game to the last over.

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News Network
May 28,2020

May 28: Former India captain and Kings XI Punjab head coach Anil Kumble is hopeful of the IPL happening this year and is not averse to the idea of conducting the cash-rich event without spectators due to the COVID-19 threat.

It is not official yet but there is speculation that the BCCI wants to hold the IPL in the October window after the tournament was postponed indefinitely earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Yes we are hopeful and optimistic that there is still a possibility (to hold IPL this year) if we can cram in the schedule," Kumble was quoted as saying by Star Sports show 'Cricket Connected'.

"If we are going to have a stadium without spectators, then probably have 3 or 4 venues; there's still a possibility, we are all optimistic," said the former spinner, who is also the chairman of ICC's Cricket Committee.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman said the stakeholders can stage the league in cities which have multiple stadia to reduce travelling by players.

"Absolutely (there is chance to hold IPL this year), and also make sure that all the stakeholders have a say," he said.

"...you should identify one venue, which probably has 3 or 4 grounds; if at all you find that kind of a venue because travel is again going to be quite challenging," said the former stylish batsman.

"You don't know who's going to be where at the airports, so that I'm sure the franchises and the BCCI will be looking into."

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News Network
March 4,2020

Mar 4: The BCCI has decided to implement strict cost cutting measures with the notable decision being IPL 2020 champions' prize money will be halved as compared to 2019. In a circular sent to all IPL franchises, the BCCI has notified that instead of a whopping Rs 20 crore, the IPL champion team will now receive Rs 10 crore only. "The financial rewards have been reworked as a part of the cost cutting measures. The champions will get Rs 10 crore instead of Rs 20 crore. The runners-up will get Rs 6.25 crore from earlier Rs 12.5 crore," a BCCI notification, in possession of news agency, read.

The two losing qualifiers will now get Rs 4.375 crore each.

"The franchises are all in good health. They also have multiple ways like sponsorships to bolster their income. Hence the decision on prize money taken," a senior BCCI source said.

However, a state association hosting IPL games will get Rs 1 crore each with franchises and BCCI contributing Rs 50 lakh each.

It has also been learnt that mid-level BCCI employees won't be allowed to avail business class flights like earlier times for flying to the Asian countries (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE) where the flying time is less than eight hours.

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Agencies
August 1,2020

Colombo, Aug 1: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his interest in playing the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), scheduled to start from August 28.

Pathan is among 70 foreign players to have shown interest in playing the LPL, ESPNcricinfo reported.

It is believed that Pathan has taken permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take part in the competition. 

BCCI doesn't allow active players to participate in other T20 leagues but Pathan announced his retirement in January this year.

Former swashbuckling all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also played in a foreign league last year. He played for Maratha Arabians in the T10 League in Abu Dhabi.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Pathan will now be put in a player draft unless one of the five franchises choose him to be a marquee player. The details of the draft, and the franchise owners, are yet to be finalised and announced. 

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is also waiting on some government clearances even as it decides on franchise owners. The five franchises will represent Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.

On Monday, SLC Executive Committee granted approval for the tournament.

"The 23 match League will be played on the four international venues of R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium. Five teams named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will participate in the League," SLC said in a statement on Monday.

Sri Lanka has controlled the spread of COVID-19 better than many other cricket-playing nations.

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