Champions League 2010

Super Kings take on Stags in opener Wednesday, Jun 30 2010 Chennai: Chennai Super Kings, the 2010 Indian Premier League champions, will take on their New Zealand counterparts, Central Stags, in their opening fixture on September 11, in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament at Durban, South Africa. According to the groupings and schedule released, the Super Kings, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, are in Group A of the 10-team competition to be held from September 10 to 26, along with Warriors Eleven (Sri Lanka), Warriors (South Africa) and Victorian Bushrangers (Australia) besides of course the Central Stags. The other two Indian qualifiers, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore are in Group B that also includes South Australian Redbacks (Australia), Higveld Lions (South Africa) and the Caribbean champions who will be known on completion of the West Indies domestic T20 tournament in late July. The Super Kings match schedule is: September 11: vs Central Stags (New Zealand) at Durban (9 pm IST) September 15: vs Wayamba Elevens (Centurion, 9 pm). September 18: vs Victorian Bushrangers (Port Elizabeth, 9 pm) September 22: vs Warriors (Port Elizabeth, 9 pm) All matches throughout the tournament will be broadcast during prime time in India, starting at 5 pm or 9 pm IST The 10 competing teams have been divided into two groups of five for a round robin phase before the top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians, runners-up at the 2010 IPL, will take on Higveld Lions on September 11 at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The Wanderers will also host the final. Durban and Centurion have been awarded the semi-finals on September 24 and 25, respectively, with the final to be played at the Wanderers on Sunday, September 26. The groupings: Group A: Chennai Super Kings (2010 IPL Champions), Victoria (Australia), Warriors (South Africa), Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka) and Central Stags (New Zealand). Group B: Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, South Australian Redbacks (Australia), Higveld Lions (South Africa) and West Indies champions. Play in Group A starts on Saturday, September 11 in Port Elizabeth with virtual international-strength clashes between the Warriors and Wayamba followed by Chennai Super Kings vs Central Stags game in Durban later that day. A number of players have qualified to play for two or more teams, including Jacques Kallis (Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore), Mark Boucher (Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore), Makhaya Ntini (Warriors and Chennai Super Kings), Kieron Pollard (South Australian Redbacks and Mumbai Indian), Dwayne Bravo (Victorian Bushrangers and Mumbai Indian) and Cameron White (Victorian Bushrangers and Royal Challengers Bangalore). New Zealand’s Ross Taylor has become the first player in CLT20’s short history to qualify for three teams - Central Stags, Victorian Bushrangers and Royal Challengers Bangalore. If Trinidad and Tobago emerge as champions of the West Indies Cricket Board’s domestic Twenty20 competition, then Pollard and Bravo will also join Taylor with three options for the tournament. As was the case in 2009, if a player is selected to play for an ‘away’ team rather than his ‘home’ team (the team from the country he is eligible to represent in international cricket), the ‘away’ team must pay USD 200,000 compensation to the ‘home’ team. ‘Away’ teams are not eligible for compensation if a player chooses to play for his ‘home’ team. The full schedule (IST): September 10: Mumbai Indians vs Highveld Lions (Johannesburg, 9 pm). September 11: Warriors vs Wayamba Elevens (Port Elizabeth, 5 pm); Chennai Super Kings vs Central Stags (Durban, 9 pm). September 12: Highveld Lions vs South Australian Redbacks (Centurion,5 pm); Royal Challengers Bangalore vs TBC (West Indies champions, Centurion, 9 pm). September 13: Warriors vs Victorian Bushrangers (Port Elizabeth, 9 pm). September 14: Mumbai Indians vs South Australian Redbacks (Durban, 9.30 pm). September 15: Victorian Bushrangers vs Central Stags (Centurion, 5 pm); Chennai Super Kings vs Wayamba Elevens (Centurion, 9 pm). September 16: Mumbai Indians vs TBC (Durban, 9 pm). September 17: South Australian Redbacks vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (Durban, 9 pm). September 18: Warriors vs Central Stags (Port Elizabeth, 5 pm); Chennai Super Kings vs Victorian Bushrangers (Port Elizabeth, 9 pm). September 19: Highveld Lions vs TBC (Johannesburg, 5 pm); Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (Durban, 9 pm). September 20: Victorian Bushrangers vs Wayamba Elevens (Centurion, 9 pm). September 21: South Australian Redbacks vs TBC (Johannesburg, 5 pm); Highveld Lions vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (Johannesburg, 9 pm). September 22: Wayamba Elevens vs Central Stags Port Elizabeth (5 pm); Chennai Super Kings vs Warriors (Port Elizabeth, 9 pm). September 23: Rest Day. September 24: Semi-final 1, 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B (Durban 9 pm). September 25: Semi-final 2, 1st Group B vs 2nd Group A (Centurion, 9 pm). September 26: Final (Johannesburg, 9 pm).

Whistle Podu...............

Four SA venues for Champions League

Four SA venues for Champions League
Friday, Jun 18 2010

Chennai: The Wanderers stadium (Johannesburg), St. Georges Park (Port Elizabeth), Kingsmead (Durban) and the Centurion Park (Centurion) will the venues for the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament to be held from September 10 to 26 in South Africa.

Winners of the 2010 Indian Premier League Chennai Super Kings, along with Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore, are among the 10 teams that will be vying for honours.

Missing this year’s competition are teams from Pakistan, who declined to participate after no player from that country figured in the 2010 IPL auctions, and England who have cited a clash of dates with their domestic season.

Last year, the CLT20 was held in India with 12 teams in the fray, but the Super Kings failed to qualify after finishing fourth in the 2009 IPL.

Australian team, New South Wales won the trophy defeating Trinidad and Tobago (West Indies) in the final.

The participating teams in this year’s tournament are:

India - Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore

Australia- Victorian Bushrangers and South Australian Redbacks
South Africa - Warriors and Highveld Lions
New Zealand - Central Stags
Sri Lanka - Wayamba Elevens
The West Indies – To be announced.

The team from the Caribbean will be known only on conclusion of the West Indies T20 tournament next month.

The format for the tournament in South Africa will be finalized on June 28 in Singapore after the meeting of the governing council, but 23 matches are likely to be played.

South Africa has emerged as one of the favoured cricketing destinations following the successful conduct of the 2003 World Cup followed by the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and the IPL in 2009 when it was shifted out of India due to security concerns.

Super Kings hoping for Freddie’s return

Super Kings hoping for Freddie’s return Wednesday, Jun 09 2010 Chennai: Chennai Super Kings, the 2010 Indian Premier League champions, received a boost ahead of the Champions League T-20 tournament in South Africa in September with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff deciding to get into competitive cricket after having recovered from a knee injury. Confirming that Flintoff will be available for the Champions League, Kasi Viswanathan of the Super Kings hoped that the Team Management gets the fitness certificate from the doctors attending on the England star. “Flintoff had informed the Super Kings that he will surely be available for the Champions League if fit by July this year,” Viswanathan said, adding: “The information that he will be available is nothing new, but the fact that Flintoff being fit and officially informing his county Lancashire is welcome news.” However, Viswanathan said Flintoff’s inclusion in the Super Kings team was subject to him producing a fitness certificate and in which case, the former England all-rounder would replace Justin Kemp. “Unless Super Kings get an official fitness certificate from the doctors of Flintoff, his replacement Justin Kemp would be in the team to tour South Africa for the Champions League. “Kemp would not find a place in the team if Flintoff is available for the Champions League. Flintoff is a quality all-rounder and he can really be a match-winner on South African pitches.” Flintoff, who was purchased for a record USD 1.5 Million at the 2009 auction, went down with a torn meniscus in his right knee after appearing in just three matches for the Super Kings in South Africa. Following his surgery, he suffered a side strain to be out of the England team for their Caribbean tour. He underwent rehabilitation in Dubai later which also forced him out of the 2010 IPL that the Super Kings won on Indian soil. In the 2009 IPL that was shifted to South Africa due to security concerns in India, Flintoff played just three matches, scoring 62 runs with a highest of 24 and a strike rate of 116 while picking up two wickets for 105 runs (11 overs).

Ashwin - A reward for hard work

Ashwin - A reward for hard work
Monday, May 17 2010

Chennai: When skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni threw the new ball to Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl in the power play phase in the IPL, the tall off-spinner grabbed the opportunity with both hands to emerge as a key bowler for the Chennai Super Kings. Ashwin, in fact, played a crucial role in the team's success and it was no surprise when he was picked for the tour of Zimbabwe beginning in the last week of May.

Modest to a fault, Ashwin is one of only two Super Kings players in the Indian team for the Zimbabwe campaign, the other being opener Murali Vijay.

With Harbhajan Singh firmly in the saddle, Ashwin obviously has to bide his time. He was in the Indian team for the ODI series against South Africa but did not get to play a game. Yet, Ashwin kept chipping away and the the IPL season saw him blossom forth into one of the top bowlers.

His IPL performance earned him a berth in the team for Zimbabwe and Ashwin is obviously keen to make the best of the opportunity.

"Getting selected is omething that I was looking forward to like everybody who picks up the bat and ball at the age of eight dreams about getting selected. Like many others, I have also been performing well in the domestic season and in the IPL events. I am delighted to have been selected and raring to join the team. Hope to get my game and prove my worth in the team," he said.

Focus and determination played were his major attributes in the IPL and Ashwin hopes to continue the good work in Zimbabwe as he feels that he is in the 'zone'.

"Preparation is very important. I am totally focused to perform in a positive manner. I am getting to be in the zone of feel good factor and I have practiced enough and technically well equipped to deliver the results," he said.

Although only 23, Ashwin has equipped himself with a lot of knowledge about the conditions he is likely to encounter in Zimbabwe and prepare accordingly for his maiden visit to that country.

"Generally, I do not ignore any cricket that is telecast. Whatever I have seen of how cricket is being played in Zimbabwe, it must be pretty sunny but there is a lot of breeze around, I guess. The wickets are rather slow because of the black soil.

"I think it should help the team as we have right combinations. We also have lot of slow bowling options. I think we are well equipped going there."

Ashwin does not believe in over-reaching himself but keeping his mind focussed on the job on hand rather than thinking too far ahead.

"Whenever I go into tournaments or whenever I am bestowed with a chance, I do not look at further deeds or gifts that are going to come my way. I want to fulfill the job on hand. Tomorrow is rather uncertain. It is nature of life. I am happy with whatever I get to do and work towards proving my mettle," he said rather philosophically while signing off

Abhinav--- future of indian cricket

Abhinav: All set for England tour Friday, May 14 2010 Chennai: Two years ago, Abhinav Mukund made it to the Indian Under-19 team for the World Cup in Malaysia, but did not play a game due to poor form in the run-up to the competition. But the discerning noted the talent in the opening batsman and it was no surprise when he signed up with the Chennai Super Kings. If the 2008 World Cup was a personal disappointment to him since he didn't get to play a game, then Abhinav did not allow that to weigh him down. Rather, he continued to score runs heavily in the domestic competition. His persistence and consistency have now won him a berth in the India 'A' team that is set to tour England later this summer. The left-handed batsman who also bowls leg breaks, has played 25 first class matches, scoring 2,034 runs with 300 not out as his highest and an average of 53.52. Reacting to his selection to the India A team, Abhinav said: ''I am overjoyed first of all for having been selected to the India-A team. It is a great opportunity for me. I was kind of expecting it. I do not usually look at team selections. I did not know that the team was getting selected on that particular day. "I am pleased that I made the cut. I am looking at this tour as a great exposure for me. I think I will do well because I have prepared enough and this is one of few chances that had come by your way.'' Abhinav is only too aware that age is on his side and is not unduly worried about having to wait for his chance to gain selection, especially at the international level, considering the close competition that exists in his age group. "I usually do not think about all these factors. It is a matter of time because there were so many players before you who have come through the grind. But I have no problem in waiting for my chance. I do not expect anything, but if it comes, well and good," he said. He firmly believes that he is as fit and ready for the England tour as he can be after working on his fitness and also the game in the past couple of months when he was part of the Super Kings squad in the IPL. ''Mentally, I have prepared for it and when you start playing, you always dream of playing for the country. Physically, I have been preparing well for the past two months. If you had spoken to me before the IPL, I would have told you that I wanted to get stronger. ''For the past two months, I have worked a lot on it and become a lot stronger. Whoever gets settled or acclimatizes faster in those conditions, should have an edge. I have a positive mind set and I am confident about it. And, gelling with others will not be a problem at all,'' he said looking ahead to the England tour. He felt that his previious visits to England, first with his father who played club cricket and a few friendlies that he played before his entry into first class, would help him settle down to English conditions. ''I had travelled to England when I was very young with my father, who used to play Club cricket in the Kent and Surrey league. I had played couple of games too when I was much younger and it was well before I took to serious cricket. I am able to recollect all my past experiences in England and they will help me,'' he said.

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