Ganguly steps down from Pune Warriors’ captaincy

May 11, 2012

ganguly_step_down_from_captency

Sourav Ganguly’s stint as the captain of the Pune Warriors has come to an abrupt end, with the southpaw deciding to step down from the helm.


Ganguly's future role in the team was spelt out by the franchise owner Subrata Roy who said that the veteran batsman wants to remain in the team as mentor only. “Sourav will be the mentor next season. We rather pushed him to play in IPL 5 as he is such a fantastic captain," Roy said on Thursday, putting an end to intense speculations about the impending exit of the Kolkatan.

The disclosure, though, wasn’t without its share of drama. While the rumours have been rife about Ganguly’s uncertain future as the leader of the struggling outfit, the former India captain himself had clarified on Thursday evening that he would continue to lead the side till the end of the season. “No, I am still the captain and I’ll captain for the whole season. That’s about it,” the southpaw had remarked.

A few hours later, however, it was clear that the 40-year-old will not continue as the captain. In what appears to be a compromise formula, Roy stated that Ganguly would like to sit out the team's last three matches for the youngsters' sake. “Sourav wants to give youngsters a chance in the last (three) games," Roy told a television channel. “Ganguly is a fine captain, our team lacked good Indian talent,” he added.

Deviating from his statements in the evening press do, Ganguly said: “I did not want to be the captain but was asked to do so. Now, I want to give chance to youngsters.” Ganguly has been under the scanner for his failure as a batsman in the current edition of IPL while the team's below-par show has also put a question mark on his waning leadership skills.

By his own admission, Ganguly’s performance has been patchy but he said that was no reason for him to sit out of any match, even making light of Kumar Sangakkara and Daniel Vettori’s move to do so. “It’s (form) been patchy. I have played well at times and haven’t played well at other times. That’s the way it goes in T20 format. There are other players around that haven’t done well but when it comes to Ganguly there’s more criticism than others. That’s been the trend for last the 15 years. But, yes, I expected to perform better.

“As far as captains dropping themselves, it depends upon situations. Both those captains (Sangakkara and Vettori) were overseas players and you can play only four of them. Vettori had to sit out because of Muttiah Muralitharan, so not a bad choice,” he said.


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Agencies
March 26,2020

Karachi, Mar 26: Pakistan's centrally-contracted cricketers will contribute Rs 5 million to the national government's emergency fund to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ehsan Mani on Wednesday said apart from centrally-contracted players contributing Rs 5 million, the employees in the board, up to the senior manager level, will contribute their one day's salary.

Those employed as general managers or on higher posts will give two days' salary to the fund.

"The PCB will collect all these funds and deposit it to the government's coronavirus fund," he said.

Pakistan has recorded more than 1,000 positive cases of the deadly virus, which has claimed more than 19,000 lives all over the world.

"It is the history of the cricket board that we always stand by the government in difficult times," Mani said.

The PCB has already given its high performances centre in Karachi at the national stadium to be used by paramedical staff working at the special coronavirus hospital set up at the expo centre in the in the city.

Mani said though cricket has been disrupted by the virus outbreak but it was far more important for the nation to stand by the government and also take all precautionary steps during the pandemic.

Pakistan's centrally-contracted players are entitled to monthly salaries ranging from Rs 5 to 12 lakh besides match fee and other earnings.

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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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News Network
June 9,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 9: Former India skipper Rahul Dravid has said that Virat Kohli understands that the real respect for him as a cricketer will come through success in the longest format of the game.

Dravid, popularly known as 'The Wall', also said that Test batsmanship has become exciting to watch now as batters play aggressive shots more often.

"I actually believe Test batsmanship has become more exciting than before, the aggressive element of Test batsmanship is going forward, players are playing shots and it is good to see, a good thing for India is Virat Kohli really values Test cricket, he understands that the real respect for him as a cricketer will come from his success in Test cricket," Dravid told Sanjay Manjrekar in a videocast hosted by ESPNCricinfo.

He also said that defensive batting in cricket is not irrelevant, but added that players can have successful careers without having a good defensive technique.

"I don't think it is becoming irrelevant, maybe the value of defensive batting is not the same as it was a generation ago, it can never become irrelevant, I think you still need to defend your wicket if you want to score suns, I feel now you can survive without a good defensive technique in cricket," Dravid said.

"Today, you do not need to have a good Test career to have a successful career, look at the best players in the world today, a lot of them have a good defensive technique and they can play out difficult periods of the game," he added.

The 47-year-old Dravid also said that all young players want to represent their country in all three formats during their initial days, but eventually, they become realistic as time passes by.

"I would say in my interaction with the younger players, everyone's hero is someone who has succeeded in all formats of the game. I think all players start off wanting to play all formats, but then guys get a little realistic about their careers, superstars of the game will still want to play to all formats of the game," Dravid said.

Dravid is the only player in the history of cricket to be involved in two 300-plus ODI partnerships.

He played 164 Tests, 344 ODIs and one T20I for India. Dravid had announced his retirement from international cricket in March 2012.

He finished his career with 48 international centuries.

He has also coached the Indian junior sides (India U-19 and India A) and he is now the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Dravid has also led the side during his playing days and under his leadership, the side had managed to register their first Test series win in England.

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