Eden Gardens Kolkata gets all seven matches

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All Seven Home Matches of 2009’s IPL will be at Eden Gardens, Kolkata :

After lots of drama, meetings between Knight Riders management and CAB, finally it is decided that the Eden Gardens will host all seven home matches of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the second edition of the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL). The tournament gets underway on April 10.

At a hastily convened news conference, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya said that Knight Riders co-owner Jay Mehta informed him of the decision on 21st February, 2009 (Friday).

“I received a call from Jay Mehta and he confirmed that all the seven matches this year would be played in Calcutta,” Dalmiya said.

The announcement puts to rest all speculation that a couple of the Knight Riders’ home matches could be hosted by Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium. It was learnt that logistic problems in Cuttack finally tilted the scales in the city’s favour.

Speaking to reporters, Dalmiya admitted that despite Friday’s confirmation, time was still short for getting Eden ready for a month of busy action. He added in the same breath that the CAB would do everything in its power to ensure there was no cause for complaint.

“We will burn the midnight lamp and make the Eden presentable before the IPL. On behalf of the CAB, I have assured Knight Riders of our best co-operation.”

As part of their preparations, Knight Riders will play a few practice matches in Dhaka next month.

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said that Deccan Chargers have selected Visakhapatnam as the venue for two of their home matches in the second edition of the IPL.

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Ricky Ponting replaced with Morne Van in 2009 IPL

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Ricky Ponting will not Play in 2009 IPL, Replaced with Wicketkeeper-Batsman Morne Van :

The above face will not be seen in Kolkata Knight Riders team in 2009’s IPL. Ricky Ponting on 19th February, 2009 (Thursday) announced that he will skip this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), starting April 10, saying he wouldn’t be able to give his all to the national team if he uses the two-week break to play in the IPL. The Australian captain is contracted with the Kolkata Knight Riders. As a replacement of Ricky KKR has taken Morne Van Wyk, the wicketkeeper cum batsman of South Africa.

“I have made the decision I will not play in the IPL Twenty20 competition this year. My country comes first and there was no way I could give my all for Australia if I used the only two-week break we have to go and play in India,” Ponting wrote in his column in The Australian.

“I have been talking with my team, the Kolkata Knight Riders for a month or two now, and in the end my only choice was to withdraw from the 2009 competition, but I will most certainly be back for 2010 when I hope to be able to make a much greater contribution. The franchise has been fantastic about the whole thing and I want to thank them for their understanding,” he wrote.

From a source of KKR, it is heard that they are not breaking their contract with Ponting because he is a good and experienced player and the price they are giving to him is much less in comparison with others in IPL. But actually it is rumored that Kolkata Knight Riders management tried to sell Ricky Ponting, but not a single franchise are interested to take him at this moment.

Joy Bhattacharya, chief executive officer of Knight Riders, said they respected Ponting’s wishes, they would seek a replacement for the Australian captain.

And finally it is officially said, wicketkeeper-batsman Morne Van Wyk of South Africa will be Ricky Ponting’s replacement. The 29-year-old has played six ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals.

Ponting said part of his decision not to play in the IPL this year was that Twenty20 cricket was physically demanding and he wanted to preserve himself for the World Cup in England in June.

“I could have played for two free weeks in the IPL and in many ways that is not satisfactory, not for the Knight Riders and not for Australian cricket either.

“And then there was the issue of giving up the chance to be with my family for a fortnight. It is always hard to leave Rianna and I cherish every second I spend with my daughter Emmy.

“Having said that, it will be painful not to be with the Knight Riders and I am going to be sneaking out in the night to catch as many of their matches as I can on the television.

“Before we go a step further, I want to say that this is not an indication of any intention to ease myself out of Twenty20 cricket. I am really looking forward to the World Cup. It’s one trophy we do not have on the shelf and have never had.

In conclusion, Ponting did not forget his commitments for next season. “I haven’t looked ahead to next year but it would be perfect if I could get over and play every game with the Knight Riders.

The IPL is one of the most exciting competitions in world cricket and I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on that trophy too, but until then it is the trophy cabinet at Cricket Australia that matters the most.”

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Shilpa to perform for IPL music video

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Shilpa Shetty will Perform in Rajasthan Royals’s New Music Video as Item Number :

When she had swung her hips to Aayee hoon UP, Bihar lootney, Shilpa Shetty had clean bowled many people across India.

But Shetty wants to better her performance when Warne and his boys in the Rajasthan Royals look to loot runs and wickets in IPL Season 2.

“Shilpa’s item songs have always been special. She wants her IPL music video to be her best item song ever,” said an official of the team in which the actress recently bought a stake.

The music video will be part-sponsored by her boyfriend Raj Kundra, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals who emerged surprise winners in the first season of Indian Premier League.

Shilpa Shetty will dance to the team anthem Halla Bol, sung by the popular Indian actor, TV personality & a folk-pop singer Ila Arun and composed by Anand Raj Anand.

Ken Ghosh, who’s now making the film Kaminey with Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, will choreograph and direct the video. Ken Ghosh is a former ad-filmmaker who will direct a music video after seven years.

“Shilpa gave the final green signal for both Ken and Anand. She had worked with both before,” the Royals official said. “She’s totally involved in the project and is working on the costumes, accessories, everything in advance. She wants to sizzle like never before in the video and that is the mandate she has given Ken.”

The music video, featuring the item number, will be shot in March in Jaipur.

It will cost approximately Rs. 3 crore. Kundra will contribute one-third the amount while the rest will come from the team kitty.

It is rumored on Shilpa’s cards also is a television reality show on the lines of Shah Rukh Khan’s Kings and Angels, anchored by Shilpa, to find cheer-leaders for her team.

“Shilpa will have the final word on the styling and the costumes of the cheerleaders. The show will be produced by Shilpa’s S2 Productions We are in talks with television channels to air the show,” said the Royals source. Shetty was unavailable for any comment on this topic.

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Knight Riders deal with Coca-Cola

Kolkata Knight Riders Make Deal with Coca-Cola, Not with Pepsi Again :
Tit for tat. First PepsiCo did not renew their endorsement contract with Shah Rukh Khan after a decade-long association and then Shah Rukh Khan’s IPL did not renew their endorsement contract with PepsiCo for this year. This is called exact retaliation.

Coca-Cola on 19th February, 2009, announced it would be an associate sponsor of Kolkata Knight Riders, the DLF Indian Premier League team owned by the actor Shah Rukh, actress Juhi Chawla and her husband Jai Mehta, for three years, starting this season (IPL Season II).

The negotiations with PepsiCo for title sponsorship began to look tough in this season; the actor’s Indian Premier League team then has begun talks with Coca-Cola for a new deal. Finally the deal fixed with Coke rival PepsiCo fizzled out.

“We had a meeting with PepsiCo yesterday evening after which we decided that there was no point expecting much from them. Coke was making a much better offer as per their letter of intent. It was a multi-year deal — so we picked Coke,” said a Knight Riders source.

Pepsi was the associate sponsor and beverage partner of Kolkata Knight Riders last year.

PepsiCo, which did not renew its endorsement contract with SRK after a decade-long association, had been willing to offer a “golden handshake” to the superstar in the form of a sponsorship for his IPL team.

Sources said the three-year deal with Coca-Cola - which would promote Sprite brand (the company’s clear lemon drink) — would fetch KKR around Rs. 5 crore annually. Though it was first heard that Coca-Cola is expected to pay around Rs 6 crore, but may be after negotiation the price came down to Rs. 5 crore per annum.

PepsiCo did not comment on the development. But sources said it wasn’t ready to offer more than a one-year contract, worth around Rs 4 crore.

As part of the new deal, Sprite will be the official beverage of the Kolkata team.

“Twenty20 cricket is clearly a growing passion with today’s youth. The success of IPL 2008 has taken the game to a new high. It provides Coca-Cola India with a very exciting platform to connect with all its consumers. We are happy to bat with Kolkata Knight Riders as an associate sponsor and pouring partner,” said Venkatesh Kini, vice-president (marketing), Coca-Cola India.

Coke will get branding rights for Sprite on players’ apparel (leading arm) as well as on the helmet.

“The KKR partnership will further help entrench the brand among consumers not only in Bengal but across India. As part of the association, Sprite will have in-stadia presence and activation rights for all seven home matches at Eden Gardens, India’s most loved cricketing venue,” said Coke spokesperson Viraj Chauhan.

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Sachin retired from Twenty20 International

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Sachin Tendulkar Retired from Twenty20 Internationals but Will Play the IPL :

Sachin Tendulkar on 12th February, 2009 (Thursday) confirmed his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals saying that he did not wish to be part of the scheme of things for India in the shortest version of the game.

Tendulkar ruled himself out of India’s two Twenty20 Internationals for the upcoming tour of New Zealand which will start from 25th February 2009, and said that he did not want to “disturb” the team’s winning combination.

Sachin has played only one T20 International, against South Africa in 2006, and opted out of the T20 World Championship in South Africa in 2007.


Speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event, Tendulkar said he no longer wanted to be in contention for a place in the team.

“When I made the decision to miss the T20 Championship in 2007, I was tired after the England tour and wanted rest. I did not feel that I would be able to give my best, so it was a conscious decision not to play then,” Sachin said.

“Now the team is doing well and I do not want to disturb the winning combination. I do not want to be part of the (India) T20 team.”

He, however, said that he would continue to play for the Mumbai Indians in the DLF Indian Premier League.

Tendulkar said he was “not convinced” with the umpire referral system in which the bating and fielding teams are allowed to ask the umpire to refer a decision to the third umpire.

“Leg before wicket decisions on referrals are not convincing enough,” the 35-year-old Mumbaikar said.

Sachin was philosophical about the debatable decisions that went against him in the three One Day Internationals he played against Sri Lanka recently.

“The whole world has seen. You think about all going well for you but they don’t,” he said. “During a long journey, there are red and green signals along the way.”

Following are the 2009’s schedule of forthcoming International cricket matches which will be played between India and New Zealand in New Zealand –

February 25 : First Twenty20 meet in Christchurch
February 27 : Second Twenty20 meet in Wellington
March 3 : First ODI in Napier
March 6 : Second ODI in Wellington
March 8 : Third ODI in Christchurch
March 11 : Fourth ODI in Hamilton
March 14 : Fifth ODI in Auckland
March 18-22 : First Test in Hamilton
March 26-30 : Second Test in Napier
April 3-7 : Third Test in Wellington

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Knights & Angels on NDTV imagine to choose cheerleaders

Juhi Chawla to Choose Cheerleaders at Knights & Angels Program :

 

 

 

Knights & Angels on NDTV imagine to Choose Best Cheerleaders for Kolkata Knight Riders :

Whatever happens to the team, Bollywood Baadsha Shah Rukh Khan always make sure that the entertainment aspect must be on top for Kolkata Knight Riders.

For making the Indian Premier League more entertaining, one of the most prominent entertainers are cheerleaders. So, SRK thought why we don’t hire the best cheerleaders, who will cheer for the team and obviously entertain the crowd. And to fulfill that they (SRK and Juhi Chawla) are going to telecast a reality show titled as “Knights & Angels” on NDTV imagine, through which they will choose the best cheerleaders ever possible.

But in previous year those cheerleaders were one of the most controversial subjects for approving them in cricket IPL, because they can ruin Indian culture (obviously some people thought like that), specially at Kolkata. And final result is known to everyone; they are not only accepted at the ground but also cheered for every franchise.

Juhi Chawla, who has selected the Bangladesh cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza in the season 2 IPL auction, it is heard that she will also choose the cheerleaders finally.

“It’s cricket, it’s entertainment and we will play to win,” announced Juhi Chawla, the co-owner of Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders, about the upcoming second season of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

The actress, who is excited about her “first-ever blonde look” in her latest release Luck By Chance, also revealed KKR’s off-field plans of 2009. “We are having a reality show on TV called Knights and Angels, where all the aspiring cheerleaders will be trained by Shiamak Davar. The best of the lot will be actually cheering for our team on the ground.”

And will we see the Rani Mukerjis and the Bipasha Basus finally donning the black-and-gold jerseys and rooting for the Knight Riders at Eden this time? “You give me a list of people you want from Mumbai... we will try and get them here,” Juhi signed off.

Following are the complete details about the reality show “Knights & Angels”

Show Name : Sunsilk presents Knights & Angels (in short “Knights & Angels”)
Show Starts From : 28th February 2009
Show Time : 10pm
Show Day : Friday
Will Telecast on Channel : NDTV imagine
Presenter : Sunsilk
Judge By : Sourav Ganguly
Cheerleaders will be Inspired By : Juhi Chawla
Purpose : To find the best cheerleaders for Kolkata Knight Riders

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