Another power-cut at Eden Gardens
Here's the latest news from the IPL
Cricinfo staff
18-May-2008
Powerless at Eden
A little over a month after an embarrassing flood-light failure, Eden Gardens witnessed another power-cut - this time only a partial one as some of the bulbs in each of the four floodlight towers went off. However, attention was soon diverted by a norwester that hit the city soon after, bringing the Kolkata v Chennai game to an abrupt halt.
A little over a month after an embarrassing flood-light failure, Eden Gardens witnessed another power-cut - this time only a partial one as some of the bulbs in each of the four floodlight towers went off. However, attention was soon diverted by a norwester that hit the city soon after, bringing the Kolkata v Chennai game to an abrupt halt.
Prasun Mukherjee, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, said the bulbs went off due to the storm. "I have been told by the technical people deployed there that it was due to the norwester that the bulbs conked out".
Mendis for Kolkata
Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan spinner who bowls offbreaks and legbreaks, has been signed on to the Kolkata Knight Riders squad till the end of the current season. Mendis' compatriot, allrounder Kaushal Weeraratne, has been invited to join Kolkata in training for a week. Weeraratne is the record holder for the fastest fifty in List A cricket.
Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan spinner who bowls offbreaks and legbreaks, has been signed on to the Kolkata Knight Riders squad till the end of the current season. Mendis' compatriot, allrounder Kaushal Weeraratne, has been invited to join Kolkata in training for a week. Weeraratne is the record holder for the fastest fifty in List A cricket.
Slow on the money
Neil Maxwell, the chief executive of Kings XI Punjab, has admitted there have been delays in paying the players, and blamed it on "taxation issues". Maxwell, who also manages a few Australian players, said the payments were being done in instalments. "The players are being paid in instalments because there are a number of taxation issues," Maxwell told news channel NDTV reacting to Australian media reports which suggested players were getting frustrated. "It is the first instalment that is taking the most time because it's not simple as a lot of taxes are involved.
Neil Maxwell, the chief executive of Kings XI Punjab, has admitted there have been delays in paying the players, and blamed it on "taxation issues". Maxwell, who also manages a few Australian players, said the payments were being done in instalments. "The players are being paid in instalments because there are a number of taxation issues," Maxwell told news channel NDTV reacting to Australian media reports which suggested players were getting frustrated. "It is the first instalment that is taking the most time because it's not simple as a lot of taxes are involved.
"I think too much is being made out of it. It's a little lengthy process and everyone has to be patient. The players are contracted with their franchises and they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding."
No age for Twenty20
After Sourav Ganguly pointed out that most of the IPL centurions were over 30 and that Twenty20 was not simply a young man's game, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said the question is not about experience but fitness. "I have always stressed on fitness," Dhoni said. "The ones who are doing well in the IPL are the ones who are fit enough to do so." He also said captaining the Chennai Super Kings was a tougher task than leading India. "I've got such a talented bunch of performers with me [in Chennai]. I perhaps would have liked to have a few more options in the bowling department. But no complaints."
After Sourav Ganguly pointed out that most of the IPL centurions were over 30 and that Twenty20 was not simply a young man's game, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said the question is not about experience but fitness. "I have always stressed on fitness," Dhoni said. "The ones who are doing well in the IPL are the ones who are fit enough to do so." He also said captaining the Chennai Super Kings was a tougher task than leading India. "I've got such a talented bunch of performers with me [in Chennai]. I perhaps would have liked to have a few more options in the bowling department. But no complaints."
Service tax notice
Service tax authorities are considering issuing a notice to Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) for alleged evasion of tax in the IPL. "Some of the areas of IPL such as event management, advertising and details of its franchise arrangements, comes under the purview of Service Tax and we are considering issuing a notice to PCA for conducting IPL and evading the service tax," said S D Sra, Chief Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs (Chandigarh Zone).
Service tax authorities are considering issuing a notice to Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) for alleged evasion of tax in the IPL. "Some of the areas of IPL such as event management, advertising and details of its franchise arrangements, comes under the purview of Service Tax and we are considering issuing a notice to PCA for conducting IPL and evading the service tax," said S D Sra, Chief Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs (Chandigarh Zone).