The IPL Buzz

The IPL could encourage match-fixing if the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament is not brought under the purview of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit, feels Tim May, the former Australian offspinner who currently heads Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA). "Any format that is more dependent on the performance of one player should represent a higher inherent risk for manipulation," May was quoted as saying by PTI. "The shorter the format, the higher the potential risk that a single performance can affect the overall result. The shorter the format, the more acceptable it will be for batters to be dismissed in a reckless manner.

"On the flipside of it is that the game moves so quick, it is difficult for parties to manipulate outcomes and adjust odds as the game progresses."

Bollywood actor Preity Zinta, who owns the Mohali franchise, says she felt bad that they couldn't get Harbhajan Singh to play for them. "I felt bad that we couldn't get Harbhajan Singh on board," she told IANS. "His being from Chandigarh, to have him on board would've been nice. But Mumbai went hard for him, and so did we. But at least the good thing is, he got paid really well. A team is never made of one person. We had our budgets, and we had to stick to it. We wanted a team that was heavy with Indians. A lot of mathematics went into the game. Overall, I think we got a well-balanced team. And in the team format, no individual wins or loses. That's the best part of it.”