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IPL 2013: Clarke, Ponting set to highlight a low-key auction

February 2, 2013

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Chennai, Feb 2: Australian captain Michael Clarke and former skipper Ricky Ponting are likely to attract most attention when the nine franchises sit for the players' auction of the Indian Premier League 6 in Chennai on Sunday.

While 101 players will go under the hammer during the auction, which will be only for the next edition, Clarke and Ponting, who are in the highest base price bracket of USD 400,000 (approx Rs 2.1 crore) will be the sought after players.

In Clarke, some of the franchises like Mumbai Indians see a potential leader after Harbhajan Singh relinquished the post.

According to IPL sources, Mumbai Indians are likely to loosen their purse strings for the current Aussie captain, who played six matches for the Sahara Pune Warriors during the last edition.

Clarke could also be a good choice for the Pune Warriors in case their marquee player Yuvraj Singh decides to only concentrate on his batting.

Warriors have a purse of over USD 3 million and can indulge into a bidding war for Clarke but according to one of their officials, "It is not necessary that if you have money, you need to spend it."

Ponting, who played four matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in first edition of IPL can be an interesting pick considering his performance for Hobart Hurricanes in the recently concluded Big Bash League. He has couple of 60 plus scores to show for his effort against Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunders.

An official, who has closely been associated with the auctions, felt that Hyderabad Sun Risers might look at Ponting as a potential mentor-cum-captain.

"Since this is a one-season deal, there is no harm in getting Ricky Ponting, who is a thorough professional. Since Kumar Sangakkara hasn't done too well as captain and Cameron White is not an automatic choice either, Ponting can be their go-to man," he told PTI.

Delhi Daredevils, who have a team loaded with quality pacers might look at roping in Ajantha Mendis, who is available at a base price of USD 50,000.

Chennai Super Kings is one team, which has a settled look, barring a new ball bowler. Among the crop of bowlers available, West Indies' Ravi Rampaul can prove to be a handy customer at a base price of USD 50,000 as no one has any idea about Jerome Taylor's current form.

India and CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's close friend Rudra Pratap Singh, who has been released by Mumbai Indians, is available at a base price of USD 100,000.

Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals are two teams who would be going into the auction with highest purses (around USD 6 million) and would have the luxury of bidding for some of the players of their choice.

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders also has a tea, that looked settled and may not be very active at the auction which is expected to be a low-key affair.

"We are not going into the auction aiming at a particular player but we will definitely track the proceedings. Let's see how it pans out and may be if we find a player interesting enough to put our money on, we might go for it," a senior support staff of the franchise said.

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News Network
March 7,2020

Melbourne, Mar 7: Ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup against Australia, India spinner Poonam Yadav said that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has given her a lot of support.

"Harmanpreet has been of immense support. When I got hit for a six in the first over, she came to me and said, 'Poonam, you're one of the most experienced players in the team, and we expect better of you'," Poonam said.

The 28-year-old experienced bowler has played 68 shortest format games for India and taken 94 wickets at an average of 22.66.

She has been in devastating form throughout the tournament and has bagged nine wickets so far.

"So, that kind of stirred something within me. I told myself if my captain has that much faith in me, I should be able to make a comeback," she said.

"I took a wicket in the very next ball, and didn't look back since. Now when I look back at that moment, it means so much in the context of my individual performance and run to the final," she added.

In the opening game against Australia at Sydney Showground, Poonam came within a whisker of the third hat-trick in Women's T20 World Cup history, dismissing Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry before Jess Jonassen was dropped.

The final of the tournament will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 8 -- International Women's Day.

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Agencies
August 7,2020

Islamabad, Aug 7: Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, known for his blistering deliveries on the cricket field, recently baffled many with a deadly off-field bouncer by claiming he is willing to eat grass if it enabled an increase in budget for his country's Army!

"If Allah ever gives me the authority, I will eat grass myself but I will increase the budget of the army," said Akhtar in an interview with ARY News.

The 'Rawalpindi Express', considered the fastest bowler in history said he does not understand why the civilian sector cannot work in collaboration with the Armed forces.

"I will ask my army chief to sit with me and make decisions. If the budget is 20 per cent, I will make it 60 per cent. If we insult each other, the loss is ours only," the once feared fast-bowler said.

Akthar had also claimed to ARY News interview that he was willing to take a bullet for his country and had turned down a county stint just because he wanted to fight the 1999 Kargil War.

Ties between India and Pakistan have been strained in the recent months over several issues, the latest being Pakistan's attempt to broach in the UNSC the issue of Kashmir on the first anniversary of the India's move to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and to split the erstwhile state into two union territories .

Pakistan also has not been in a good financial position and under prime minister Imran Khan, himself an all rounder cricketer, has added nearly USD 22 billion, that is 35 per cent to the nation's international debt pile in the last two years, according to an Asia Times report in July.

While Pakistan recently received USD 1.39 billion from the IMF to cushion the economic shocks caused due to COVID-19 outbreak, Akthar had a few months ago proposed that a joint cricket match be played between India and Pakistan to raise funds to fight the coronavirus. The suggestion that was put down by cricketers in India.

Meanwhile the 'Pindi boy' whose deadly pace and bounce was once dreaded by batsmen had recently taken to Twitter to deny former India cricketer Virender Sehwag's claim of sledging him.

Sehwag along with other Indian crickerters such as Harbhajan Singh and even Rahul Dravid had been at the receiving end of Akthar's sledging and antics during their playing days.

"Yes, totally self made story by him. Mujhe yeh bol k bach k jana kidhar tha us nay," Akthar tweeted to a report in which Sehwag claimed that he had sledged the 'Rawalpindi Express' by telling him that Sachin Tendulkar was his father.

During an awards ceremony Sehwag had recounted that fed up with Akthar's sledging and retaliated by telling him to say the same things to Tendulkar, who smashed the 'Pindi boy' for a six. Sehwag quipped that he told Akthar then that "Baap baap hota hai".

In the recent ARY interview, asked about the allegation made against him by former India cricketer Virendra Sehwag that he makes pro-India comments for greater following on social media channels, Akhtar said, "I cannot talk on the basis of hate." 

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News Network
June 29,2020

Jun 29: The West Indies cricketers will sport a 'Black Lives Matter' logo on the collars of their shirts during the upcoming three-Test series against England to protest against racism in sports.

Skipper Jason Holder, who has voiced his support to the cause that has once again come to the forefront after the killing of American George Floyd, said in a statement on Sunday: "We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness."

The ICC-approved logo, designed by Alisha Hosannah, will be the one which featured in the shirts of all 20 Premier League football clubs since the sport's resumption earlier this month.

"This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team," Holder was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality. "As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for a generation to come."

Holder, who wants racism to be treated at par with doping and corruption, said they arrived at the decision to wear the logo after much thought.

"We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop," he said.

"We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background."

The West Indies players are likely to wear the shirts for the first time in this week's four-day warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on Monday.

The opening Test of the series, which will mark the resumption of international cricket after the coronavirus-forced hiatus, will get underway at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.

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