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IPL Issues with Pakistan to be Settled
All the turbulence over the security issues in Pakistan and the attacks on Mumbai had a damaging effect on Pakistan cricket, as they were not allowed to feature in the second season of the Indian Premier League.
In the aftermath of November’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai which sparked deterioration in relations between the neighbours, the players were banned by their own government from playing in the IPL. As a result their contracts were abruptly suspended or terminated, without the issues being settled fully. But things are looking different for now as the monetary and contractual issues, of those players whose contracts were ended, are likely to be settled in the near future.
The representatives of the Pakistan cricketers from Portfolio World – a sports management company appointed by the cricketers themselves – will fly to India for discussions with the IPL bosses. Portfolio World’s chief executive Salman Ahmed confirmed this news to the Daily Times, adding that “Yes we are travelling to India to negotiate with the IPL management and also to talk to our lawyers there.”
IPL’s foreign affair leaves Indian players in cold
NEW DELHI (AFP) — The Indian Premier League may have brought money and fame for many, but the glitzy Twenty20 tournament is proving a bitter pill for some home-grown players.
Organisers insist the IPL is a domestic Indian tournament with teams allowed to field only four foreign players per match, but local cricketers are already feeling the pinch in the event’s second season.
All eight teams are coached by foreigners and only four sides are captained by Indian players.
The fascination with international stars does not end there. Among those cricketers bought at IPL auctions, seven of the top 10 earners were foreigners.
“This whole talk of IPL being a domestic Indian tournament is a joke,” former India captain Ajit Wadekar told AFP.
“It is Indian money, our country’s money on which foreigners are thriving. But they do not think twice before sacking an Indian.”
India star Mohammad Kaif, 28, was shown the door by Rajasthan Royals two days before the IPL’s second season started in South Africa because skipper Shane Warne said “he did not fit into the scheme of things”.
The removal of Kaif, who has played 13 Tests and 125 one-day internationals, left many fuming.
“It has exposed the complete ruthlessness of the owners,” said Sharda Ugra, sports editor of the respected India Today magazine.
“Eventually for them it’s business first. Unfortunately the Indians seem to be losing out, even the great players.”
India’s most successful Test captain Sourav Ganguly was replaced at the helm of Kolkata Knight Riders by New Zealander Brendon McCullum, a move masterminded by their cricket head, former Australian coach John Buchanan.
Indian Premier League ratings drop after overseas shift
NEW DELHI — The Indian Premier League is struggling to match the immense interest of last year’s inaugural season after organizers were forced to shift the 37-day Twenty20 tournament to South Africa.
The inaugural IPL’s TV rating attracted top-spending advertisers last year, but viewers’ attention now seems to be wavering.
The IPL is being played April 18-May 24 across eight cities in South Africa after organizers failed to get a security clearance from the Indian government due to a clash of dates with the general elections.
Repeating the success of the IPL’s first edition in 2008 was always going to be tough, but audience ratings have taken on more importance since the shift away from India has effectively turned the IPL into a made-for-television event.
Local support for the eight city-based franchises is not a factor this season.
The IPL’s initial matches seem to have attracted more viewers than last year, but those monitoring the TV ratings say the matches failed to hold viewers’ attention. As viewers switched to news and other programs, the ratings apparently have dropped, although no official statistics have been released.
“The start hasn’t been as bright as last year’s, but media watchers say IPL’s second season still promises to be a big hit on TV,” reported the Times of India newspaper.
The Times, quoting audience measurement agency INTAM Media Research, said the first day’s IPL telecast from South Africa “notched up a TRP (television rating points) of 5.55 per cent.”
TRP is the criterion that indicates the popularity of a television program. The viewership data is keenly followed by advertisers and media planners for their campaigns.
Last year, the IPL had averaged around a TRP of five per cent throughout the series, sustaining itself as the top TV program in the country of one billion-plus people across 44 days.
“It was 8.21 per cent on IPL’s first day last year,” reported INTAM Media Research, which also said that this year’s opening day broadcast from South Africa reached more 12 million viewers – roughly the same as last year.
The second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is in its first week and if one goes by the TV ratings the Twenty20 showpiece has failed to generate the kind of interest it did last year.
The IPL, which coincides with the general election in India, has opened with lower TV ratings as compared to last year.
A survey conducted by viewership rating agency Television Audience Measurement (TAM), revealed that the TRP ratings of the two matches on the opening day of the IPL II, was at lowly 5.55 and 5.54 percent, respectively, as compared to last year’s figure of 8.21.
But what has added to the lower ratings have been boring finishes and the rain.