Indian Premier League

Denying that boosting advertising revenue is the real reason behind introducing ’strategy breaks’ in this year’s Indian Premier League, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi on Wednesday said it is actually aimed at expediting the matches.
In yet another deviation from tradition, the second edition of the Twenty20 extravaganza would see teams getting a five-minute ’strategy break’ after 10 overs apparently to get their acts right.
Even though many feel the move was aimed at increasing advertisement revenue, Modi insisted it was just to speed up proceedings.
“I absolutely disagree with that,” Modi said. “We did a calculation last year and 100 per cent matches went over an hour beyond their schedule time. It was just delays and delays. We had enforced extremely high penalties but major of the time teams were ready to pay the money because they were back and forth talking to the players, strategising.
“So we have given them a time-out after every 10 overs and enforced high penalty like USD 3000-4000 in case of delay. The objective here is to fasten the game in fact and not slow down the game and at the same time, giving time and opportunity to the managers and teams to regroup and discuss their strategy,” Modi told a channel.
Asked for his reaction to the war of words between Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, also an IPL Governing Council member, on KKR coach John Buchanan’s controversial multiple-captain theory, Modi said it was completely the team’s prerogative to do whatever it deems fit.
“Whoever owns a team has a right to do whatever he thinks. I think Sunil is right in his way and Shah Rukh is also right.
“I think Shah Rukh has thought out his strategy… it’s actually a prerogative of the team,” Modi said.
The IPL chief conceded it would not be the same after the event was shifted out of India but was confident that the razzmatazz would prove a success.
“It’s Indian Premier League and we should be having it in India. But circumstances forced us to move out.
“But I’m looking at the positives… the tickets were exhausted within a couple of hours of opening and people told me this is the fastest selling event in South Africa’s history,” Modi added.

Indian Premier League champions Rajasthan Royals are gearing up for the second season with a host of new initiatives ranging from a new rendition of its team song to launch of a new sporting gear and the release of a DVD to capture the success of the team last year.Planned with a view to engage with the local community here and in the catchment areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat, these initiatives were also meant to help build a strong fan base both within the country and overseas.“This year, in addition to continuing with our primary metric of success — focus on cricket, we are looking at opportunities off the field to accelerate our brand building. We have launched a range of contests, initiated a membership programme for local fans besides expansion of licensing and merchandising opportunities,” said Manoj Badale, chairman and co-owner of the Royals, while launching the new initiatives.Rajasthan Royals has tied up with global sporting apparel brand Puma as the official sports apparel sponsor. Puma will provide the team with exclusive Jaipur IPL branded merchandise including team jersey, practice jersey, fan shirt and gear, caps, official shoes, cricket bats, wristbands, sports bags.The official song of Rajasthan Royals — Halla Bol — has got a new makeover under the creative expertise and guidance of new stake-holder and co-owner Shilpa Shetty.The Royals also launched a DVD titled ‘Road to Victory’ showing the team’s fairytale success last season