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MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) appears to be bigger bet than the World Cup for the Indian cricket board (BCCI) if insurance figures are taken as indicators. The BCCI has sought an event cancellation cover of nearly Rs 750 crore for the fourth edition of the IPL - almost Rs 200 crore more than what it has been trying to seek for the World Cup matches to be played in India.
According to sources, the board has floated inquires with brokers for event cancellation cover of Rs 754 crore. This will include media rights for Indian territory worth Rs 490 crore, media rights for overseas for Rs 50 crore, 194 crore towards protection of sponsorship fee and another Rs 10 crore toward any other contingency . This policy will shield BCCI against losses that arise due to cancellation of match due to terror-related incident. Even the matches that need to be called off due to adverse weather will be covered under this policy.
The board is also seeking a public liability cover worth Rs 100 crore. This covers can be invoked if there is any injury to spectators due to stampede or any other accident on match days. A total of 74 matches featuring 10 teams will be played in IPL 4. The Rs 750 crore cover is for all the matches, including the semifinals and final. All matches will have insurance cover of almost equivalent amount.
Interestingly, the coverage sought for World Cup is relatively smaller. A BCCI official said that the two tournaments cannot be compared. "It is like comparing apples with oranges. In IPL, all the 8 participating teams are competitive." Do you like this story?
FOR CRICKET fans final hours of the countdown has begun for the much awaited opening ceremony of ICC World Cup which will be held in Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on February 17. The ceremony will be telecast live across 220 countries on major sports channels.
For the opening ceremony, the entire city has been decked up and the government has already declared February 17 as a public holiday from 2 pm onwards. The excitement can be felt in the air as it is the first time ever that Bangladesh will be co-hosting an international event along with Sri Lanka and India.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the ceremony which will include 14 nations vying for the top spot lasting for 42 days. The ceremony is scheduled to last for 135 hours. Bangladesh will also host eight world cup matches including two quarterfinals, six in Dhaka and two in the port city of Chittagong.
The cricket stadium in Dhaka will have a performance by Bryan Adams from Canada, which will be his first time ever in Bangladesh. He is the only western artist, who will perform at the grand opening on the evergreen song ‘Summer of 69’ that will make this event an unforgettable experience.
Others who are going to perform include Indian musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, who will croon the official song of the ICC World Cup 2011, 'De Ghuma Ke', Runa Laila, Bhappi Lahri, Usha Uthup, and Sonu Nigam. The tickets for ICC World Cup Cricket 2011 opening ceremony will be available from February, 13, 2011 in Dhaka Bank at price ranges from 1000 to 35000 taka.
Price of Tickets :
1. Normal Local Gallery : 1000 taka.
2. International Gallery : 10000 taka.
3. Grand tickets : 20000 taka.
4. Hospitality Box tickets : 35000 taka.
The total number of audience expected to witness the Opening Ceremony Event Live at the Bangabandhu Stadium currently stands at 40,000. At the moment, the Bangladeshi capital is the focal centre of the entire cricketing world.
Wizcraft International Entertainment which had managed Commonwealth Games 2010 opening and closing ceremonies is an integral part of core team that has developed the concept for opening ceremony along with the organising committee.
Till, say, five years ago, expecting a cricketer from Bangladesh to have a wise head on his shoulders was like hoping that Pakistan would tackle terrorists with an iron hand. Wishful thinking!
Or so it was till Shakib Al Hasan emerged from the fishing hamlet of Jessore in the remote countryside of Magura. The all-rounder has outgrown the popularity and utility of stalwarts like Mohammad Ashraful — whose inconsistency has done him no favours — and the perennially-injured Mashrafe Mortaza.
Shakib, who will turn 24 during the World Cup, has, to a large extent, dictated his team’s fortunes at the big stage over the past few years. Believe it or not, but the youngster has scored a Test century, registered the best figures by a Bangladeshi to help them record their first overseas Test win, scored five ODI hundreds, led his side to a whitewash of New Zealand, besides, playing his part in bidding India goodbye in the 2007 World Cup.
The soft-spoken, forever-smiling Shakib has found his name in the ICC rankings for Test and ODI all-rounders ever since he started playing international cricket in 2006. Consistency is his forte, but no cricket expert has ever failed the ever-dependable Bangladeshi. Nor did any IPL franchise find him worthy till KKR picked him up for $425,000 in January.
And that’s where Aaron Levenstein’s definition, ‘Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital’, fails to paint the entire picture. The fact is that the numbers (see table) aren’t lying, at least in this case. Shakib is the only player — think beyond Kallis and Vettori — who finds a place in both lists, that of in-form batsmen and bowlers, tabulated by taking into account the respective performances over the 10 last ODIs.
The Bangladesh skipper has scored a hundred and three fifties in his last 10 games, besides picking up a staggering 24 wickets at an ‘Akramesque’ average of less than 18. Well, that’s precisely why teams must stand up and take notice of Shakib’s recent comments. “We have been playing good cricket for the last 15 months, and if we qualify for the second round, why not think of something big?” he said. And given that his boys will play a lot of games at home, Shakib may have, well, spoken like a wise man.
When you talk of batsmen — form or class — can the discussion ignore Indians? Expectedly, four of them find a place in the list of batsmen in good touch, but here’s where Levenstein wins hands down. Sachin Tendulkar didn’t score too many in his last two ODIs (in South Africa) and the last time he registered a three-figure score was in Gwalior (200*) in February 2010. Having said that, Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan and Virat Kohli have all been in fabulous form over the past 8-10 months. Each of them is well and truly in dangerous form. Bring in the Sehwags and Dhonis and the batting line-up is a bookmaker’s delight.
Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate, with an average of over 88 and his teammate, Tom Cooper, are surprise entrants in the list which also comprises the heavily-consistent South African duo of Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, besides southpaw JP Duminy and West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Among bowlers, Shakib — who else — is right at the top with Aussie Ryan Harris in second spot. Lonwabo Tsotsobe’s exploits against India have propelled him to No 3, even as countryman Morne Morkel finds himself in fourth position. Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Thisara Perera, Wahab Riaz and Abdur Razzak also make the cut.
And not so surprisingly, there isn’t a single Indian bowler in the mix. It, however, remains to be seen if these players have already peaked or they will hit top gear sometime during the tournament. Levenstein will be watching.
The whole of India wants it to be Sachin Tendulkar’s World Cup. And why not! As soon as the team bus arrived at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, one spotted the maestro sitting in the first row. Tendulkar may not be leading the side, but looking at the manner in which he stepped out of the vehicle, one could sense that hunger in him. The World Cup means a lot to him and that was more than evident ahead of the first practice session.
The entire team participated in a football game. Tendulkar left the field a little later, and spent the rest of the day at the NCA gymnasium. Coach Gary Kirsten is keen on getting the players ready for Sunday’s warm-up game against Australia. He chose to engage the boys in some light workout and short stints at the nets.
Kirsten was the busiest man around. The South African was seen throwing balls at Virender Sehwag and then Gautam Gambhir. The last batsman to face Kirsten was YuvrajSingh. The coach also had a word with Yuvi. The others who had a hit were Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan and Harbhajan Singh, who, surprisingly, did not bowl on Wednesday. Skipper MS Dhoni also batted for 10 minutes at an extreme corner of the nets.
The bowlers, too, had a light session with Eric Simons keeping a close watch. The bowling coach, who stationed himself behind the stumps, made good use of his baseball glove. Ashish Nehra was seen working very hard. The left-arm pacer was trying to get his run-up and rhythm right.
Meanwhile, Kirsten was quick to point out to National Cricket Academy director Sandeep Patil that the practice pitches had a lot of grass. He then ensured that the grass was shaved off.
One reckons India will try to make full use of the home advtange. After all, the flat tracks will only help out batsmen and spinners. Before he left for the day, Kirsten had a nice look at the bald pitch. It was an indication of what we’d see in the days to come.
India goes into this tournament as favorite and with good reason. The side possesses quality throughout and there is no shortage of experience and exuberance. With the side playing most of its fixtures in front of lively home crowds, it could benefit from the mystical ‘12th man’ factor in the stands, too. Drawn in Group B With South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands, India has a real chance of winning the group and thus ensuring a more straightforward quarter final draw, perhaps against New Zealand. A game against Pakistan would be an awesome spectacle for home fans and neutrals alike, though.
With expectation, however, comes pressure. If India fails to perform early on in the tournament the partisan Indian crowds could turn on the side, resulting in the magnification of any cracks that appear. With the experience in the side this shouldn’t happen, but pressure and expectation can do funny things.
Ably led by MS Dhoni, India also has the luxury of players such as Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Singhs Harbhajan and Yuvraj and Zaheer Khan. Yusuf Pathan also possesses a destructive streak that can take games out of reach of the opposition and make the unwinnable winnable.
If India wins its group, it appears set to face Sri Lanka in the semis – no easy task, especially as the fixture would likely be in Colombo. The toss will be crucial as neither side would want to be batting under lights. That said, this India side, fresh from defeat in the ODI series in South Africa, will be confident of coping with any conditions and has the players to do so. This is an entirely different proposition to playing in South Africa. The prospect of a final in Mumbai will doubtless drive the side on. For us, this will be the winning team.
Key Player – Sachin Tendulkar. The Little Master sees the World Cup as being the trophy that would put the icing on the cake of his fine career. His very presence inspires those around him and he is a totemic figure in Indian cricket. If he fires, so will the Indian team. A final in his home city of Mumbai is the perfect inspiration for Tendulkar, if he needs any more inspiration, that is.
Strength – There is a lot in India’s favour; home crowds, explosive batting and canny bowlers. The side has good openers, a strong middle order and tight bowling in Khan and Harbhajan.
Weakness – For all the strength, India has a knack of losing of its way at crucial times. If the pressure mounts in front of expectant fans, some of the younger elements will need the experienced heads to see them through. If players like Sehwag and Tendulkar can be removed cheaply, India could be pulled apart.
Betting – 3/1. Favourites on merit, these are hardly tempting odds and there is perhaps better value elsewhere. Sehwag and Tendulkar are both 14/1 to top score in the tournament and India should be involved long enough to give them sufficient opportunity to fill their boots.
Agree with what we’ve got to say? How do you feel India will fare at the World Cup?
WITH JUST 15 days to go for the cricketing extravaganza ICC World Cup 2011 to begin, we take a quick lookup at the scores and champions who helped in carving history in the last nine world cups. The analysis includes team and individual scores. Highest Individual Score 1. Gary Kirsten (South Africa) 188* vs. UAE 2. Sourav Ganguly (India) 183 vs. Sri Lanka 3. Vivian Richards (West Indiaies) 181 vs. Sri Lanka 4. Kapil Dev (India) 175* vs. Zimbabwe 5. Craig Wishart (Zimbabwe) 172* vs. Nambia Leading Run Scorers 1. Sachin Tendulkar (INDIA) 1796 (36 Matches) 2. Ricky Ponting (AUS) 1537 (39 Matches) 3. Brian Lara (WI) 1225 (34 Matches) 4. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) 1165 (38 Matches) 5. Adam Gilchrist (AUS) 1085 (31 Matches)
Best Batting Strike Rate 1. Shane Watson (AUS) 170.58 (8 Matches) 2. Dwayne Smith (WI) 163.33 (6 Matches) 3. Chris Lewis (ENG) 155.76 (9 Matches) 4. Andy Blignaut (ZIM) 138.20 (7 Matches) 5. Ian Smith (NZ) 132.69 (17 Matches) Best Batting Average 1. Shane Watson (AUS) 145 (8 Matches) 2. Lance Klusener (SA) 124 (14 Matches) 3. Andrew Symonds (AUS) 103 (18 Matches) 4. James Franklin (NZ) 95 (9 Matches) 5. Michael Clarke (AUS) 87.2 (11 Matches) Most 100s 1. Sourav Ganguly (INDIA) 4 (21 Matches) 2. Mark Waugh (AUS) 4 (22 Matches) 3. Sachin Tendulkar (INDIA) 4 (36 Matches) 4. Ricky Ponting (AUS) 4 (39 Matches) 5. Rameez Raja (PAK) 3 (16 Matches) Most 50s 1. Sachin Tendulkar (INDIA) 13 (36 Matches) 2. Graham Gooch (ENG) 8 (21 Matches) 3. Martin Crowe (NZ) 8 (21 Matches) 4. Steve Tikolo (KEN) 8 (23 Matches) 5. Herschelle Gibbs (SA) 8 (25 Matches) Best Bowling 1. Glenn McGrath (AUS) 7/15 (7 Ovrs) vs. NAM 2. Andrew Bichel (AUS) 7/20 (10 Ovrs) vs. ENG 3. Winston Davis (WI) 7/51 (10.3 Ovrs) vs. AUS 4. Gary Gilmour (AUS) 6/14 (12 Ovrs) vs. ENG 5. Shane Bond (NZ) 6/23 (10 Ovrs) vs. AUS Highest Team Total 1. INDIA 413 vs. BER 2. SL 398 vs. KEN 3. AUS 377 vs. SA 4. INDIA 373 vs. SL 5. NZ 363 vs. CAN Lowest Team Total 1. CAN 36 vs. SL 2. CAN 45 vs. ENG 3. NAM 45 vs. AUS 4. SCO 68 vs. WI 5. PAK 74 vs. ENG Largest Victory Margin (Runs.) 1. INDIA 257 vs. BER 2. AUS 256 vs. NAM 3. SL 243 vs. BER 4. AUS 229 vs. NED 5. SA 221 vs. NED Largest Victory Margin (Wts.) 1. INDIA 10 vs. ZIM 2. WI 10 vs. PAK 3. WI 10 vs. ZIM 4. SA 10 vs. KEN 5. SL 10 vs. BAN Most Catches 1. Ricky Ponting (AUS) 25 (39 Matches) 2. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) 18 (38 Matches) 3. Chris Cairns (NZ) 16 (28 Matches) 4. Brian Lara (WI) 16 (34 Matches) 5. Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK) 16 (35 Matches) Most Stumping 1. Moin Khan (PAK) 7 (20 Matches) 2. Adam Gilchrist (AUS) 7 (31 Matches) 3. Kiran More (INDIA) 6 (14 Matches) 4. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) 6 (21 Matches) 5. Romesh Kaluwitharana (SL) 4 (11 Matches) Most Run Outs 1. Jonty Rhodes (SA) 5 (24 Matches) 2. Dwayne Bravo (WI) 4 (9 Matches) 3. Chris Harris (NZ) 4 (28 Matches) 4. Lou Vincent (NZ) 3 (6 Matches) 5. Mark Waugh (AUS) 3 (22 Matches)
DURING THE previous International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup tournaments, it was noticed that some unknown companies had sent e-mail to fans indicating that they had won cash awards as part of ICC sweepstakes or other prize competitions, which were nothing but fake. These e- mails most often instructed fans to provide personal details, including bank account information and to wire funds to a third party bank account to facilitate their receipt of the award.
Most of these companies turned out to be fake and their objective only is to dupe the gullible fans of their hard earned money. To ensure that people are not caught in this type of fraud, the ICC has issued notice to all fans across the world that neither does the ICC conduct nor authorise any such sweepstakes or prize promotions nor does it appoint any third parties to do so.
ICC has stated that it never asks anyone to send or confirm personal information via e-mail or to wire funds to a bank account for award eligibility. ICC has asked the readers to note that if they do happen to receive an e-mail from someone proposing to be an agent of ICC or other company that asks for personal information etc., then they should avoid responding to it.
It is most likely a deceitful e-mail and the sole purpose is principally illegal gain. ICC said "All are requested to put all these type of mails in blocked e-mail or spam e-mail list or delete it forever. It is best you immediately notify your local law enforcement agency."
INDIAN CRICKET captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the entire Indian team wants to make this world cup memorable for the legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin, who has, so far played five cricket world cups since 1992, is still to add his name in the world cup winning squad.
Indian skipper also told reporters during a promotional event in New Delhi that the World Cup trophy can be the biggest gift from the team to Sachin Tendulkar apart from adding, “We all love him (Tendulkar) a lot. Most probably it is his last World Cup although we all want him to play many more World Cups. But practically speaking it seems impossible. ”
Sachin, who will turn 38 on April 24, played his first ever world cup cricket at the age of 19 years. Sachin Tendulkar has already played 36 world cup matches and scored 1796 runs with average strike rate of 57.93. He has scored four centuries and 13 half centuries in the world cup. During the 2003 World Cup, Sachin scored 673 runs, which is highest by any player in a single Cricket World Cup tournament. He has also won eight man-of-the-match awards in world cup matches which is also a world record.
India, one of the favourite contenders of Cricket World Cup 2011, is placed in group 'B' along with South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Ireland. The inaugural match will be played against India and Bangladesh at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on February 19.
THE TENTH edition of mega cricketing event ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is going to start from February 19 at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Defending champion Australia and thirteen other nations will play a total of 49 matches at 13 venues during the 43 days long event.
A ten year old elephant, Stumpy is the official mascot of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The winner and the runner-up teams of this mega event will get a total prize money of US$ 3 million and US$ 1.5 million respectively. ESPN Star Sports and Star Cricket would broadcast ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 across the globe.
Here are some interesting and unique facts of the first World Cup Cricket, which was held from June 7 to June 21, 1975 in England.
First ever world cup match captains: Mike Denness (England) and S. Venkataraghavan (India)
First cricketer who scored a 100 in a world cup match: Dennis Amis (England) 137 runs against India
First cricketer who scored 150 in a world cup match: Glenn Turner (New Zealand) 171 runs (not out) against East Africa
First cricketer who scored a 50 in a world cup match: Keith Fletcher (England) 68 runs against India
First cricketer who hit a six in a world cup match: Keith Fletcher (England) against India
First cricketer who played full sixty overs in a world cup match: Sunil Gavaskar (India) against England at Lord's, London
First cricketer who scored a 100 in a world cup final: Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
First cricketer to claim a wicket in a world cup match: Mohinder Amarnath (India) of John Jameson (England)
First bowler who claimed 5 wickets in a world cup match: Dennis Lillee (Australia) against Pakistan
First bowler who claimed 5 wickets in a world cup final: Gary Gilmour (Australia)
First bowler who bowled a batsman in a world cup match: Madan Lal (India) bowled Dennis Amis (England)
First cricketer who was run-out in a world cup match: Ramesh Sethi (East Africa)
First wicket-keeper who picked a catch in a world cup match: Alan Knott (England) of Anshuman Gaekwad (India)
First wicket-keeper who stumped a batsman in a world cup match: Ken Wadsworth (New Zealand) stumped Frasat Ali (East Africa)
First cricketer to take a catch in a world cup match: S. Venkataraghavan (India) caught John Jameson (England)
First team which won by the margin of 200 runs in a world cup match: England against India at Lord's, London
First team which won by 10 wickets in a world cup match: India won against East Africa at Headingley, Leeds
First team which scored 300 runs in a world cup match: England against India at Lord's, London
First team which scored below 100 in a world cup match: Sri Lanka against West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester
First cricketer who won Man-of-the-match in a world cup match: Dennis Amis (England)
First cricketer who won Man-of-the-match in a world cup final: Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
First umpires to officiate a world cup match: David Constant and John Langridge of England.
World Cup 2011 matches: Final (April 2); Group stage: New Zealand vs. Canada (March 13), New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka (March 18).
About the venue: The Wankhede Stadium has been considered the main cricket venue since being preferred to Brabourne Stadium as the home to India's cricket nursery in the 1970s. It is located close to the coastline in the country's commercial and entertainment capital and a sea breeze aids swing bowling. There was concern over construction work but the ICC gave it a provisional go-ahead for all its matches in January.
Since: 1883.
Capacity: 48,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: South Africa vs. West Indies (Feb. 24), West Indies vs. Netherlands (Feb. 28), Canada vs. Kenya (March 7), India vs. Netherlands (March 9).
About the venue: Nestled beside a 650-year-old fort in a central part of the Indian capital, it had been known for its placid pitches. But it surprised the cricket world with a relaid surface that had so much bounce that a one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka was called off in December 2009. A one-year ban was slapped on the venue before the ICC declared it fit to host international matches.
Since: 1993.
Capacity: 30,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: Semifinals (March 30); Group stage: South Africa vs. Netherlands (March 3), Ireland vs. West Indies (March 11).
About the venue: Located just outside the northern Indian city of Chandigarh near the foothills of the Shivalik ranges, it is considered one of the best venues in India. It hosted the 1996 World Cup semifinal between Australia and West Indies. It had a lively pitch early on but the pace has significantly slowed over the years.
Since: 1916.
Capacity: 50,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: New Zealand vs. Kenya (Feb. 20), England vs. South Africa (March 6), England vs. West Indies (March 17), India vs. West Indies (March 20).
About the venue: The MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as the Chepauk Stadium, has been a regular international venue since 1934. The sultry conditions can be sapping but it is known to have a sporting crowd that appreciates good performances from any team.
Since: 1864.
Capacity: 67,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: Ireland vs. South Africa (March 15), Ireland vs. Netherlands (March 18), Kenya vs. Zimbabwe (March 20).
About the venue: Venue of the 1987 World Cup final, it also hosted a World Cup semifinal in 1996, which was awarded to Sri Lanka after a rowdy crowd disrupted the match by starting a fire and throwing bottles onto the ground when the Indian team slipped into a losing position. Delayed renovation forced the ICC to relocate the India vs. England group match to Bangalore. Renovations have reduced the capacity from 90,000 to 67,000.
Since: 2008.
Capacity: 45,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: England vs. Netherlands (Feb. 22), Australia vs. New Zealand (Feb. 25), Canada vs. Zimbabwe (Feb. 28), India vs. South Africa (March 12).
About the venue: The VCA Stadium is a new facility in Jamtha area on the fringes of the western Indian city that replaced the older VCA Stadium in the heart of the city. It boasts superb facilities and a lush green outfield but its location makes it more difficult for fans to travel to the venue.
Since: 1982.
Capacity: 54,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: Quarterfinals (March 24); Group matches: Australia vs. Zimbabwe (Feb. 21), New Zealand vs. Zimbabwe (March 4).
About the venue: Located on the banks of the Sabarmati river on the outskirts of this western Indian city, the venue is also known as the Motera Stadium. It was renovated for the 2006 Champions Trophy, when it hosted five of the 15 matches. It is a regular test as well as one-day venue.
Since: 1972.
Capacity: 50,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: India vs. England (Feb. 27), England vs. Ireland (March 2), India vs. Ireland (March 6), Australia vs. Kenya (March 13), Australia vs. Canada (March 16).
About the venue: Situated near the beautiful Cubbon Park in the heart of the 'tech' city, the Chinnasawamy Stadium is a regular cricket centre. It was renovated before the 1996 World Cup, when it hosted the quarterfinal between India and Pakistan. It also houses the National Cricket Academy, which was established in 2000.
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Since: 1986
Capacity: 35,000
World Cup 2011 matches: Semifinals (March 29); Quarterfinals (March 26); Group matches: Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan (Feb. 26), Sri Lanka vs. Kenya (March 1), Pakistan vs. Canada (March 3), Australia vs. Sri Lanka (March 5), Australia vs. Pakistan (March 19).
About the venue: Khettarama Stadium, as it was previously known, was built on a marshland in the capital as one of the earliest flood-lit grounds in Asia. It was renamed R. Premadasa Stadium, in 1994, after Sri Lanka's late President Ranasinghe Premadasa who pioneered the project. The venue has undergone a complete upgrade for the World Cup with improved spectator and corporate facilities. The ICC approved the venue despite concerns over delayed construction work.
Since: 2009
Capacity: 35,000
World Cup 2011 matches: Pakistan vs. New Zealand (March 8), Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe (March 10), Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe (March 14).
About the venue: The venue was planned as an alternative to the picturesque Asgiriya Stadium, formerly the centre of cricket in Sri Lanka's central hills of Kandy. Asgiriya is owned by an Anglican mission school and a need for an alternative venue arose with problems in scheduling international fixtures at a school ground. After a slow start to construction, Pallekele Stadium was eventually certified to host three World Cup matches. Muttiah Muralitharan has played a key role in realizing a new venue and there are proposals to name the ground after the great Sri Lankan spin bowler.
Since: 2009
Capacity: 35,000
World Cup 2011 matches: Sri Lanka vs. Canada (Feb. 20), Pakistan vs. Kenya (Feb. 23).
About the venue: Constructed for World Cup, the venue is named after Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa and is situated in the town of Sooriyawewa in the southern Hambantota district. The ground is yet to host a full international match because of construction delays and bad weather.
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Since: 2006
Capacity: 25,000
World Cup 2011 matches: Opening match Bangladesh vs. India (Feb. 19); Quarterfinals (March 23 and March 25); Group matches: Bangladesh vs. Ireland (Feb. 25), Bangladesh vs. West Indies (March 4), Bangladesh vs. South Africa (March 19).
About the venue: Previously known as the Mirpur Stadium. Later it was after renamed after A.K. Fazlul Haque, who is popularly known as Sher-e-Bangla or The Lion of Bengal. He was a scholar and politician during British colonial regime. The stadium is 10 kilometres outside of downtown Dhaka and boasts excellent infrastructure and facilities. The opening match of 2011 World Cup between Bangladesh and India will be held here, as well as group matches and two quarterfinals.
Since: 2004.
Capacity: 20,000.
World Cup 2011 matches: Bangladesh vs. England (March 11), Bangladesh vs. Netherlands (March 14).
About the venue: Was formerly known as Chittagong Divisional Stadium and Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Chittagong. Situated outside Bangladesh's second-largest city, it was one of the five purpose-built cricket grounds established in the run-up to the 2004 Under-19 World Cup. The stadium was granted full international status in January 2006, ahead of Sri Lanka's visit to Bangladesh.
With the world war of cricket sniffing distance away, here are some facts for the lovers of the sport Sandeep Kumar Delhi
The world is readying to witness the biggest cricketing action as ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 unfolds in a fortnight. The 10th ICC World Cup will be the biggest world cup in the history as far as the number of participating teams is concerned. The 43 days event will jointly be hosted by three countries of the sub-continent, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
This is the third time when the World Cup is being played in the Asian subcontinent. India is the only team which has been a host on all three occasion. Pakistan was also supposed to hold 14 matches of the forthcoming 2011 World cup but due to the 2009 attack on the Srilankan cricket team in Lahore, the ICC cancelled the holding rights of the neighbouring country.
The teams are divided into two groups with World Champion Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan New Zealand, Canada, Zimbabwe and Kenya in Group A. While co-hosts India, South Africa West Indies, England, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands complete the other group. It would be an auspicious moment for Bangladesh as they will be hosting any world cup event for the first time. The tournaments begins on February 19, 2010 when India and Bangladesh face will battle it out at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Altogether 49 matches will be played on different stadia spread over three countries. The grand finale is slated for April 2, 2010 at the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai. Four time world champion Australia is again the hot favourite to take the trophy home. India, Sri Lanka and South Africa too are closing in the gap with a strong line-up. Australia won in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007. West Indies won in 1975 (the first World Cup) and 1979. India won the World Cup in 1983, Pakistan in 1992 and Sri Lanka won in 1996
TUI Travel PLC’s Sport Division which is part of the Specialist & Activity Sector have joined forces with Emirates to offer travel packages to some of the world’s most exciting sporting events to a global audience. The partnership will enable fans to utilise Emirates fantastic flight network and the specialist sport tour operating skills from leading companies such as Gullivers Sports Travel.
The newly created Emirates Sports Travel will kick off the partnership by offering sport fans ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 packages to the tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (19th February – 2nd April 2011).
Hailed as ‘The Cup That Counts’, The ICC Cricket World Cup is the biggest prize in the sport, held over 43 days with 14 countries competing for the title.
Not only do fans have the chance to watch the excitement on the field, and the England team fresh from their Ashes win, but it is also the perfect opportunity to discover the diverse and vibrant countries of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, possibly the most passionate cricket countries in the world.
Marc Bennett, Managing Director of TUI Travel PLC’s EMEA Sport Division said: “We are excited to partner Emirates for this iconic sporting event. As Gullivers Sports Travel has been appointed Official Travel Agent to ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, we are best placed to be able to offer cricket fans the full experience. We also look forward to working with Emirates after the tournament to add more sporting events to this partnership.”
Packages to ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 start from £323 per person to watch hosts Bangladesh take on England at Zohur Ahmed Choudhury Stadium, Bangladesh (10th – 13th March 2011). This price includes three nights B&B accommodation at the 4* Hotel Agrabad and the guarantee of an official match ticket (charged separately at face value). These packages are only available in combination with an Emirates flight which is available at extra cost.
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Despite being considered as one amongst the minnows and an easy pushover for the stronger sides, the Ashish Bagai-led Canadian team will travel to the Indian subcontinent with the intention of creating a few upsets and go back home with some pride and accolades. In a group that has biggies like Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Canada will look to contribute to the twists and turns of the mega tournament by trying to make themselves competitive against the big guns, all the while hoping to pick up the odd win against other teams in the same bracket as them.
Having won a World Cup warm-up match against Netherlands on February 6th at Abu Dhabi, Canada will be pumped up to begin their World Cup campaign with the right attitude and playing some good competitive cricket. Though this Canadian side has seldom played in the Indian subcontinent, the presence of players of Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan origin should mean that conditions aren't too alien for them. They are in the limelight straight away in the tournament, opening their campaign on Day 2 against co-hosts Sri Lanka on February 20th at Hambantota. It will be imperative for their confidence that they are not ripped to shreds by the likes of Muralitharan, Mendis and Malinga, and batting out their 50 overs will be one of the targets they set themselves when competing with the big boys.
Batting:
Although Canada will enter their third World Cup as a minnow, one cannot forget what opening batsman John Davison did against West Indies in the 2003 World Cup. His beserk innings of 100 from 67 balls still remains untouchable. Davison, now 40-years old, is the senior stateman in the Canadian side, and while no longer quite as lethal, he does still pose a threat. Hiral Patel, who has often been moved up and down the order, could play as Davison’s opening partner. The Indian-born Patel doesn’t have the stats to back him up but his energy and the urge to work hard and play well will help him fight any initial nerves on such a huge stage.
At number three, Canada will play the Sri Lankan-born Ruvindu Gunasekera. The 19-year old Gunasekera has represented Canada in just three ODIs but has scored half centuries in two of them. Although the southpaw failed to impress against Netherlands in the warm-up tie, he will be very useful in conditions that will suit him well. Captain and Wicket keeper Ashish Bagai, who is most likely to play at number four, will be Canada’s top dog. Bagai, who is one of the few members of the squad to have featured in a World Cup before, will bring in a lot of consistency into the team’s batting. Although Canada finished at 5th spot in the ICC World Cricket League Division One, Bagai played a few good innings and was instrumental in both their victories against Kenya in the tournament. He has also been very effective with the gloves effecting 13 dismissals in the two World Cups he has played. The Indian-born Bagai will lead his side for the first time in a World Cup and will be excited about the prospect of returning 'home' for the tournament.
In the middle order, Canada has the likes of Rizwan Cheema and Jimmy Hansra. The 32-year old Cheema is known for his fearless batting and is believed to have the audacity to hit big pacers all over the park. In the 21 ODIs he has played, Cheema has scored 523 runs at a brilliant strike rate of 119.40.On batsmen-friendly pitches, if this man gets going, even the strongest team will be in a spot of bother. Jimmy Hansra, another Canadian player of Indian origin, fits into the batting lineup as one of the lower order batsmen who can clear the ground as well as nudge the ball around and consolidate a partnership according to the given circumstances. In the warm-up tie against Netherlands, Hansra scored a patient fifty to set up his side’s run chase after a few initial hiccups, and took them to a good win ahead of the World Cup.
Bowling
Canada’s bowling attack is spearheaded by the Pakistan-born Khurram Chohan. Chohan is partnered by Henry Osinde, who is considered to be Canada’s fastest bowler. Both Chohan and Osinde are aggressive bowlers and will look to get their side a couple of wickets early on. Both have done reasonably well for Canada in ODIs, with Chohan picking up 22 wickets in 15 games at an economy rate of 4.78 rpo while Osinde has 35 wickets in 33 games at an economy rate of 5.00 rpo. Both of them bowled exceptionally well in the warm-up tie against the Netherlands, going for just 46 runs and picking up two wickets in 16 overs between them. The Canadian squad has a good first change medium pacer in Harvir Baidwan. Known for his impeccable line and length, Baidwan has done well in the 19 ODIs he has played so far, picking up 24 wickets at an economy rate of 4.83 rpo. Baidwan picked up two wickets and gave away just 29 runs in 7.4 overs at an economy rate of 3.78 in the aforementioned game.
Among the spinners, Canada has the 20-year old Parth Desai, who is considered to be one of the best young spinners in Canada. With his disciplined line and length, Desai is capable of keeping the runs down, while picking up the odd wicket too. He had a decent outing in the ICC World Cricket League Division One, picking up six wickets in six games at an economy rate of 3.96. He also bowled exceptionally well in the warm-up tie against Netherlands, finishing with figures of 2 for 18 in 5 overs. In conditions that will suit spinners more than the pacers, this Indian-born off-spinner will look to make the most of this opportunity and help his side to win a couple of games. Captain Bagai also has another spin option in Balaji Rao. Rao also bowled very well in the warm-up tie, picking up two wickets, giving away just 12 runs in his quota of 6 overs.
Squad:
Ashish Bagai (c & wk), Rizwan Cheema, Harvir Baidwan, Balaji Rao, John Davison, Parth Desai, Tyson Gordon, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Jimmy Hansra, Khurram Chohan, Nitish Kumar, Henry Osinde, Hiral Patel, Zubin Surkari, Karl Whatham, Hamza Tariq
Support Staff:
Coach - Pubudu Dassanayake, Assistant Coach- Chandika Hathurusingha, Match Analyst- Rathan Moorthy, Strength and Conditioning Coach- Coling Berenhaut, Physio- Dr. Giovanni Perri, Manager- Michael Henry, Assistant Manager- Johnny Bujan
Likely XI: Hiral Patel, John Davison, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Ashish Bagai(c & wk), Rizwan Cheema, Khurram Chohan, Jimmy Hansra, Harvir Baidwan, Henry Osinde, Parth Desai, Balaji Rao
Players to Watch
John Davison- Davison, with his 67-ball century in the 2003 World Cup is one of the most dangerous batsmen that Canada possesses. The 40-year old is probably playing in his last World Cup and would be looking to go all out to perform well and give the cricket fans in Canada something to cheer about.
Ashish Bagai - Playing three crucial roles of the Captain, Wicket keeper and often even opening the batting, Ashish Bagai will be the man to watch out for on the batsman friendly pitches in the Indian subcontinent. The former Delhi-lad will look to lead the team from the front and play the role of sheet anchor in his side’s pursuit to make sure they bat out the 50 overs.
Dark Horse:
Jimmy Hansra - Jimmy Hansra, who often plays in the side as a floater, will look to seize this opportunity to cement a permanent spot in the batting order. Bagai can use Hansra wisely by bringing him out according to the demands of the situation. He already displayed his ability to revive a batting collapse in the warm-up tie against Netherlands where he scored a resilient half century to take his side to victory.
Schedule
The minnows Canada have their task cut out from the word go at the World Cup as they begin their campaign against one of the World Cup favourites and the co-hosts, Sri Lanka on February 20th at Hambantota. They then travel to Nagpur on February 28th for a game against Zimbabwe, where they will look to play out of character and squeeze out a win against an opposition that will find the subcontinent pitches a bit more of a challenge.
The action then shifts to Colombo, where they take on a strong Pakistan side on March 3rd. Despite Pakistan’s problems before the World Cup, Canada is unlikely to challenge the Asian powerhouse. Canada then travel to Delhi to take on Kenya on March 7th. Having beaten Kenya on two previous occasions in the ICC World Cricket League Division One, this will be Canada’s most crucial fixture and they will hope to pick up all the points from this game. They next travel to Mumbai to take on New Zealand, who have not been in the best of form in ODIs. Canada is easily the weaker side but will look to take their chances and hand the Kiwis an upset.
Canada end their group stage matches with a game against Australia on March 16th at Bengaluru. They will be keen to escape that match with their dignity intact, and end the tournament on a high.
Fixture List: February 20th: Sri lanka vs Canada at Hambantota at 14:30 local time February 28th: Canada vs Zimbabwe at Nagpur at 09:30 local time March 3rd : Canada vs Pakistan at Colombo at 14:30 local time March 7th: Canada vs Kenya at Delhi at 14:30 local time March 13th: Canada vs New Zealand at Mumbai at 09:30 local time March 16th: Canada vs Australia at Bangalore at 14:30 local time
Recent Form: September 2010: Ireland vs Canada ODI Series- Series Drawn (1-1) July 2010: ICC World Cricket League Division One – Fifth Place April 2010: West Indies vs Canada: West Indies won 1-0
Predictions:
The minnows from North America will come in with no expectation and will set themselves a target of a minimum of two wins in the Group Stage of the competition. But more often than not, a big stage like the World Cup, gives these 'little ones' an extra reason to go out onto the field and set the stage alight. In their bid to beat the biggies of the Cricketing World, expect Canada to play out of their skins and entertain the huge crowds before they head back home with a group stage exit.
MUMBAI: For S Sreesanth, a firm believer, this has to be yet another reason to reinforce his faith in the almighty. Just when it seemed like a lost cause, after failing to find a slot in the 15-member Indian squad for the World Cup, the Kerala speedster has been included in the side albeit at the expense of an injured Praveen Kumar.
"The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Praveen Kumar can be replaced in the squad by Sreesanth," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement, a day after the Uttar Pradesh bowler was ruled out of the quadrennial event with an elbow injury.
A "heartbroken" Sreesanth had tweeted immediately after the team was announced in January. "I will keep giving my very best to the game no matter how small my chances are... I truly believe in God," he had tweeted then.
On Tuesday, the joy of being part of a World Cup squad ruled as he went about with his training at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore on Tuesday. "Better late than never. God has been great to me and I am really looking forward to playing in the World Cup. I was thrilled when I got the call this afternoon," he said. "Honestly, I was not hoping to play in this World cup. In fact, for the last few days I have been coming to NCA to get ready for the upcoming domestic matches. This news came in as a big surprise. I am fully fit and also bowling well. I hope to continue the same form in the World Cup," said Sreesanth.
The Kerala paceman is already a World Cup winner being part of the 2007 World T20 triumph and he is looking forward to achieve glory in the 50-over format this time around. "I know everyone talks about that catch (to dismiss the last Pakistan batsman in the edge-of-the-seat final). But here I hope to give my best with the ball and will certainly want that we go all the way to Mumbai and end the World Cup drought," he added.
The chances he got at the international level over the past few months point to the fact that Sreesanth has been more or less looked upon as a Test specialist. After featuring in eight ODIs in early 2010, Sreesanth had to wait till November for another chance in the 50-over format and has played just one more after that, making it just 10 ODIs in a span of 14 months.
Injuries, the constant companion of fast bowlers these days, might have played a part in Sreesanth's exclusion many times including in the last ODI series in South Africa but one factor that has always gone against him was the high economy rate.
A bowler, who is known for his wicket-taking capabilities, Sreesanth's economy rate of 6.01 from 51 ODIs is highest among all the specialist bowlers in the Indian squad. His 71 wickets at an average of 32.14 is quite impressive.
"Hey the world, now is the time to know Bangladesh" -- the mesmerising 'welcome song' is expected to set the stand on fire.
The welcome song is the inaugural item of the grand gala opening ceremony of the first ever World Cup Cricket, which kicks off on February 17, and it will depict the history of Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital, reports BSS.
This will be followed by the official 'theme song' -'De Ghumma Ke" to be sung in four languages.
The welcome song begins with "O Prithibi. Ebar eshey Banglake nao chiney.. O prithibi,. Ebar eshey Banglake nao chiney. (Hey the world. now is the time to know Bangladesh.).
The 5.40-minute-long 'welcome song' written by Zulfiqar Russell will be directed by famous music director and singer Ebrar Tipu. It is not yet finalised who will sing the song in Bangla but it is expected to be presented by Habib or Hridoy Khan while the English version will be sung by Mila and Elita.
The song is superbly composed asking the world that this is the time to know Bangladesh, its culture and heritage. Then the song depicts the 23-year arduous movement led by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman starting from 1952 Language Movement to War of Liberation in 1971.
In the concluding part, the song urges the visitors to come and witness the beauty of Bangladesh and its chanting mangrove forest and world famous sprawling coastline and people's mad desire to win.
Talking to the agency, music director Ebrar Tipu said, "Since the wording of the welcome song is about Bangladesh I have selected local music and instruments to complete this song."
"The music will include all local instruments starting from dotara to shehnai while the song will be composed with the mingling of classical, folk and modern tunes."
Bollywood's famous team of music directors Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy has composed the official theme song of World Cup 2011. They have composed the three versions of the song titled 'De Ghumaa Ke' in Bangla, Hindi and Sinhalese. The tournament, which will start on February 19, will be held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The theme song 'De Ghumaa Ke' is a very passionate number aimed to create the fierce sense of competition and the strong desire to win. The term literally means 'Hit It Hard' and it is one word used by all the cricket fanatics for their favourite player and team.
The ICC World Cup 2011 trophy was handed over to the Bangladesh Cricket Board last evening at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on the outskirts of Dhaka. The cup which arrived in Dhaka by a special flight from India was taken around the city in a colourful road show before being handed over to the Bangladesh Cricket Board President AHM Mustafa Kamal. Bangladesh is co hosting the Cricket world Cup for the first time along with India and Sri lanka. The opening ceremony of the ICC World Cup 2011 will be held in Dhaka on 17th Feb. Eight matches, including the inaugural match between India and Bangladesh on19th February will be played in Bangladesh.
THE TENTH edition of mega cricketing event ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is going to start from February 19 at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Defending champion Australia and thirteen other nations will play a total of 49 matches at 13 venues during the 43 days long event.
A ten year old elephant, Stumpy is the official mascot of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The winner and the runner-up teams of this mega event will get a total prize money of US$ 3 million and US$ 1.5 million respectively. ESPN Star Sports and Star Cricket would broadcast ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 across the globe. Here are some interesting and unique facts of the first World Cup Cricket, which was held from June 7 to June 21, 1975 in England.
First ever world cup match captains: Mike Denness (England) and S. Venkataraghavan (India)
First cricketer who scored a 100 in a world cup match: Dennis Amis (England) 137 runs against India
First cricketer who scored 150 in a world cup match: Glenn Turner (New Zealand) 171 runs (not out) against East Africa
First cricketer who scored a 50 in a world cup match: Keith Fletcher (England) 68 runs against India
First cricketer who hit a six in a world cup match: Keith Fletcher (England) against India
First cricketer who played full sixty overs in a world cup match: Sunil Gavaskar (India) against England at Lord's, London
First cricketer who scored a 100 in a world cup final: Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
First cricketer to claim a wicket in a world cup match: Mohinder Amarnath (India) of John Jameson (England)
First bowler who claimed 5 wickets in a world cup match: Dennis Lillee (Australia) against Pakistan
First bowler who claimed 5 wickets in a world cup final: Gary Gilmour (Australia)
First bowler who bowled a batsman in a world cup match: Madan Lal (India) bowled Dennis Amis (England)
First cricketer who was run-out in a world cup match: Ramesh Sethi (East Africa)
First wicket-keeper who picked a catch in a world cup match: Alan Knott (England) of Anshuman Gaekwad (India)
First wicket-keeper who stumped a batsman in a world cup match: Ken Wadsworth (New Zealand) stumped Frasat Ali (East Africa)
First cricketer to take a catch in a world cup match: S. Venkataraghavan (India) caught John Jameson (England)
First team which won by the margin of 200 runs in a world cup match: England against India at Lord's, London
First team which won by 10 wickets in a world cup match: India won against East Africa at Headingley, Leeds
First team which scored 300 runs in a world cup match: England against India at Lord's, London
First team which scored below 100 in a world cup match: Sri Lanka against West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester
First cricketer who won Man-of-the-match in a world cup match: Dennis Amis (England)
First cricketer who won Man-of-the-match in a world cup final: Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
First umpires to officiate a world cup match: David Constant and John Langridge of England.
NEW DELHI: ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat believes cricket World Cup will dismiss fears of the demise of the 50-over format of the game and prove that all three formats can co-exist.
"I think the talk of poor interest in 50-over cricket is overstated. I firmly believe that all three forms of the game (Test, ODI and T20I) will co-exist and in fact thrive at international level," Lorgat said.
"I hope that the ICC Cricket World Cup, being the game's flagship event and cricket's biggest prize, will add to reversing the poor perception of 50-over cricket as some of the recent matches already have.
"To be frank, the talk of a demise of 50-over ODI cricket is way out of whack with what we are experiencing. Players, spectators, TV viewers and administrators still see great value in the ODI and I think we are very fortunate as a sport to have three viable formats that are so popular in their own ways. I can't think of any other sport that enjoys such an embarrassment of riches in that way," he added.
Lorgat said 2011 will witness the most open and unpredictable ICC Cricket World Cup in history.
"This year's event promises to be one of the most open and unpredictable in history. It seems to me that the top teams are all playing some wonderful cricket at present and there is precious little to decide between them," he said.
"The Australians could make history by becoming the first team to win four in a row but they will be challenged as they are not as dominant today as they were four years ago. The other teams no doubt will sense an opportunity to wrestle 'The Cup that Counts' from their tight grasp," he added.
The ICC CEO said the governing body doesn't have plans to tinker with the format of the game but it is ready to consider changes if it is good for cricket.
"There are no plans to dramatically change the format of the 50-over game at international level. That said, we encourage our Members to experiment with different formats and initiatives to see if there are ways it can be enhanced," he said.
"The ODI today has a very different look and feel to what it was 40 years ago when the first match took place in 1971. We have always embraced change and will continue to do so. If it's good for ODIs we will consider it," he added.
The World Cup, which is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will be starting from February 19 in Dhaka.
Television makers and satellite TV service providers have started the battle for the Cricket World Cup sales bonanza through price cuts, bundled offers, zero-interest finance and big-ticket campaigns.
Panasonic has cut the prices of its flat television models, while LG, Samsung and Akai kept television out of overall price increases to offset rising input costs.
Sony on Tuesday also roped in Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its brand ambassador and kicked off a 100-crore multimedia campaign to promote its Bravia HD TV brand and said it targeted to sell 2.5 lakh television units during the mega event.
TV makers have also tied up with direct-to-home satellite TV providers such as Dish TV, Tata Sky and Airtel Digital TV and financiers for bundled discount offers and special finance schemes. DTH providers are also offering special sports packages to cash in on cricket fever, besides tying up with TV brands.
"World Cup Cricket season is as good as Diwali season," says Saurabh Dhoot, director at Videocon Industries , which is present in both television and DTH markets.
TV makers expect up to 50% jump in their monthly sales during the February-May period. While the World Cup takes place between February 19 and April 2, IPL-4 kicks off on April 8.
Japanese company Panasonic has reduced the prices of all its LCD television models by 3%, or 800-1,000. A 32-inch Panasonic LCD TV is now available at nearly 24,000.
"World Cup is the time when cricket fans are glued to their television sets almost throughout the day. We want to reach out to a large number of people this time," Panasonic India's marketing director Manish Sharma said. Television prices will be revised upwards only in April, he said. Panasonic, however, is contemplating a price increase in its other products due to increasing prices of raw materials such as copper and steel.
Something market leader LG India has already done. The South Korean consumer durable maker has increased prices of all products categories except televisions by 5%.
"Picture tube, a key cost component in a TV set, hasn't witnessed a sharp price rise. So, television prices have been kept stable," LG India's chief operating officer YV Verma said.
Of course, it has the World Cup demand in mind. LG expects 35% year-on-year growth in TV sales during the World Cup-IPL season.
Samsung and Akai, too, will hold on to TV prices for now. Samsung is also offering zero-interest finance schemes to boost TV sales this season.
LCD TV sales doubled in 2010 to nearly 3 million units from 1.5 million in 2009, thanks to sporting actions such as IPL-3, Football World Cup and Commonwealth Games. Television makers expect the market to touch 5-million mark this year.
Sony aims to corner a 40% share in the flat panel TV market during the World Cup by selling 2.5 lakh units during the mega event, Sony India MD Masaru Tamagawa said.
"Cricket is the biggest sport in India. Dhoni and Sony are a perfect match," he told reporters in Mumbai. An industry official said Sony has also cut its TV prices, but this could not be confirmed from company officials.
Sony has also joined hands with Airtel to offer free DTH connection on purchase of its Bravia HD sets till April 15. Dish TV has a similar tie-up with Samsung.
DTH service providers expect the Indian market to grow to 35 million by the end of the cricket season. With ESPN Star Sports telecasting the World Cup in Hi-Definition, players are betting big on HD box sales too. Videocon D2H has launched its high-definition Digital Video Recorder, which allows users to record live programme to watch it later.
Cricket lovers can be a part of the World Cup celebrations on Yahoo! through live match updates, detailed match analysis, exclusive video content, engaging games and rewarding contests.
Yahoo! India and the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the launch of the official ICC World Cup 2011 website - iccevents.yahoo.com today. This website will be the official ICC World Cup online destination for cricket enthusiasts from around the world who are following the ICC Cricket World Cup frenzy.
Cricket lovers can be a part of the World Cup celebrations on Yahoo! through live match updates, detailed match analysis, exclusive video content, engaging games and rewarding contests. The experience will feature more interactivity by choosing from a variety of cool world cup themed avatars, the ability to buy game tickets and other ICC merchandise through the website.
Prem Panicker, Managing Editor, Yahoo! India said, “Cricket is the most passionately followed game in India and many countries around the world. Cricket fans can now catch all the excitement of the game on the ICC World Cup 2011 official website. Yahoo! Cricket will deliver compelling and unique content alongside interactive contests to build on the euphoria for the game. Enthusiasts can share their thoughts, play games, create personalized profiles and track matches through interactive schedulers. Cricket fanatics can also watch and share exclusive video content and photographs on the site. We have ensured that Yahoo! Cricket provides a platform for millions of supporters to come as close to living, feeling and breathing the action unravel in the forthcoming 2011 World Cup. ”
According to Campbell Jamieson, ICC General Manager, Commercial, “As the countdown continues to the Cup that Counts, we are thrilled to be working with Yahoo! to launch an online destination that offers the exclusive ICC Cricket World Cup content in an innovative and engaging way. We are also grateful to our partners who have helped make the ICC’s flagship event such a great success.”
The ICC World Cup website on Yahoo! offers a range of unique highlights including:
Live scorecard interaction: Enjoy a more visual and captivating experience when following the World Cup online with the help of filter commentary options to check out what you want (e.g. 4’s / 6’s / wickets filters). You can also interact with other fans and Yahoo! Cricket experts through the Live Cricket Chat widget.
Commentweeter: Get a consolidated view of Twitter updates directly from cricket fans and the top cricketers of the world in one single view. Yahoo! Face in the crowd –Yahoo! photographers will be doing rounds clicking pictures of fans in the stadiums during the World Cup matches. Unique and cool fan photographs will be selected for display on the stadium’s big screen. Fans featured in the best photographs win cool Yahoo! goodie bags. You can also take your own ‘Face in the crowd’ pictures and upload them on Flickr.
Yahoo! Cricket keeps fans up to date with all the cricketing action around the world. From the latest cricket news, live ball by ball updates, match schedules, team & player profiles, cricket photos & videos, cricket interviews to columns – Yahoo! Cricket offers cricket fans with an enthralling and exciting experience that keeps cricket buffs as close to the 22 yards as possible.
Despite being considered as one amongst the minnows and an easy pushover for the stronger sides, the Ashish Bagai-led Canadian team will travel to the Indian subcontinent with the intention of creating a few upsets and go back home with some pride and accolades. In a group that has biggies like Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Canada will look to contribute to the twists and turns of the mega tournament by trying to make themselves competitive against the big guns, all the while hoping to pick up the odd win against other teams in the same bracket as them.