IPL will be held outside India

Holding the state governments responsible for the decision to shift IPL overseas, BCCI president Shashank Manohar announced that IPL
2 will be held outside India. ( Watch )

The BCCI took the decision in an emergency meeting as the dates of the tournament were clashing with general elections and the government had expressed reservations on providing security for the tournament.

"Due to the attitude of the government that it cannot provide security for the tournament, we are forced to take a decision to move the IPL out of India. I apologise to the people of India for moving the tournament out," BCCI chief Shashank Manohar said. ( Watch )

"But we're are going ahead with the event so that they can at least watch the event on television," Mahohar added.

As per PTI reports, IPL Commissioner and Chairman Lalit Modi said the number of matches, format and timing of the event will remain unchanged and the organisers would not tinker with the "integrity of the tournament".

"Dates and timings of the matches will remain the same. The Indian audiences can watch the matches at 4 pm and 8 pm IST as they did in the inaugural season," Modi said.

“A final decision on the IPL dates and venues will be announced on Monday”, he said.

"Revenue cannot be an issue, the 59-match tournament will remain as 59-match tournament. The issue is the integrity of the tournament. We want to ensure the quality which we deliver and it cannot be compromised. We have to deliver the world standard event," he said.

Manohar also expressed his displeasure at the state governments' attitude, saying Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra Government changed there stance at the last moment.

"The AP government revoked its earlier permission and Maharashtra Chief Minister wrote a letter that we can't host matches in that state until May 13. We had scheduled 18 matches for Maharashtra," he said.

Asked if franchise were also taken into the confidence before taking the decision, Manohar said "the franchise would want the tournament to go ahead".

Meanwhile, a BCCI press release, said it was not possible to hold the event on any other dated that the original schedule due to busy international calender.

"The BCCI is conscious of the general elections, which will be held between April 16 and May 13, 2009. The BCCI has had several discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the scheduling of IPL matches.

"...It is pertinent to understand that within the present International calendar of events, there is no other window for IPL to be played during this year. Immediately after conclusion of the IPL, the teams will play in England on May 25 for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup commencing from June 2.

"After the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, the Indian team will play four ODIs in the West Indies after which, the team will tour Zimbabwe for a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and South Africa.

"In September, India would play Champions Trophy in South Africa, following which would be the Champions League. Between October 2009 and March 2010, there are three home series against Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa," it said.

The release also said the tournament provided a large revenue last year so, it would not hold a truncated event.

"The experience of the first IPL has shown that apart from providing employment at the various venues, IPL has also contributed close to Rs. 100.0 crores to the exchequer.

"The BCCI, therefore, is not in a position to either play a truncated IPL or to cancel the 2nd edition of the IPL... The BCCI is left with no other option but to conduct the Indian Premier League in another country,"

South Africa and England are the two countries being considered as the likely venues, according to TV reports.

Earlier, South Africa was considered as one of the alternate venue and according to various reports emerging out of South Africa, Wanderers, Centurion and Potchefstroom are likely venues for the mega event if South Africa takes over the tournament this year, Times Now reported.

Lords and Oval are likely to be venues of the matches if England hosts the tournament.

Soureces By:
The Times Of India

Chelsea dismiss reports linking David Villa and Roman Pavlyuchenko with the club

Barclays Premier League: Chelsea v Bolton, Saturday, 3.00pm
Roman Pavlyuchenko (Pic:Getty)

Guus Hiddink has dismissed speculation linking Chelsea with Valencia's David Villa and Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Chelsea's interim coach denied he had spoken about the Spurs striker on a Russian website and rejected speculation that the Blues were interested in bringing Villa to Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink, preparing his side for tomorrow's home clash with Bolton Wanderers in the Barclays Premier League, was quick to put the record straight.

"I did not give any comment about Pavlyuchenko," said Hiddink. "I don't give any comment on players with other clubs.

"Harry Redknapp knows exactly what to do with his players, He is a respected professional.

"Pavlyuchenko is with Tottenham and I hope that he will fight to get his position at Spurs. That is important for himself.

"If you want to survive in England you must keep on fighting and get your position."

When asked if the club were interested in Villa, Hiddink replied: "No, there is no indication of that."

Hiddink will ask his players to forget their 3-1 Champions League victory over Liverpool in midweek and concentrate on keeping their title dreams alive against Bolton.

Chelsea's stunning demolition of the Reds at Anfield sent shockwaves through Europe but Hiddink insists the players must not get carried away with the euphoria surrounding their victory.

"Tomorrow we have to be fully concentrated, it is not easy, but we have emphasised that in our team meetings," said Hiddink.

"Bolton will not be an easy game because they know we had a tough match on Wednesday.



"We have to focus on it being difficult and our concentration will be the key. I hope we don't need an alarm bell to start ringing before we start playing well."

Hiddink is likely to make minor adjustments to the side for the visit of Bolton but will resist the temptation to rest a host of players.

"You must always be careful with temptations, professionally, and I think we still have to focus on the league," said Hiddink.

"We have some little problems which might give me an opportunity to rest some players. But as long as we are in the race for the title, it is difficult.

"We must not drop any points. It is a difficult but reachable goal.

"When you are on top and have a game in hand, you have a luxury but you must be aware that you can stumble.

"It puts more pressure on the chasing teams like us and Liverpool because you cannot drop any points."

Hiddink remains adamant that he will leave the club at the end of the season, irrespective of any success.

The clamour for him to stay is growing among the supporters, particularly after their win over Liverpool, but the Dutchman insists he owes it to the Russian players to finish his task with the national side.

"I have my contract with the Russian Federation and I do it wholeheartedly," said Hiddink. "We started two years ago with Russia and they are young and ambitious players.

"The moral standards in our business is sometimes going up and down but I owe it to the players to go to the end, which can be qualification or not. I am going to stick with them.

"There has been no discussions about me staying because we all knew the situation when I arrived. Nothing has changed and we don't have to talk about it."

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Saturday, 11 April



Chelsea v Bolton, 3pm
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Hearts star Miko jets home for Vlad talks

SAULIUS MIKOLIUNAS returned to Lithuania last night after failing to agree terms on a new contract with Hearts, the Evening News can reveal.
Mikoliunas, on loan at Tynecastle from the Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas, had discussed a deal to remain in Edinburgh next season on a reduced wage but so far has opted not to sign, thus he was summoned back to eastern Europe for talks with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

The player spent yesterday at the club's Riccarton training ground but suspects that his four-year spell in Scotland could be brought to an end if negotiations do not proceed.

He was not included in Hearts' squad for last weekend's victory over Kilmarnock after refusing to accept the contract terms. His fate was discussed yesterday after one of the club's Lithuanian directors, Sergejus Fedotovas, arrived in town for discussions with manager Csaba Laszlo.

Mikoliunas remains contracted to Kaunas, the Lithuanian club which, like Hearts, is financed by Vladimir Romanov's Ukio Bankas Investment Group. He would be obliged to return there if his future cannot be sorted out, however the club is not playing top-level football at present due to a dispute with the Lithuanian Football Federation.

Mikoliunas said last year that he may look for pastures new at the end of the season when the current loan expires. "The conditions at Hearts are perfect," he said in December. "Edinburgh – wonderful city and the Scots are crazy for football. But I have stayed four years, therefore I would like something new. New challenges."

Live Brazil vs Peru 3-0 Qualifying goals & highlight

Live Brazil vs Peru 3-0 Qualifying goals & highlight

Worldcup 2010 Qualifying Bolivia 6 Argentina 1 highlights

Worldcup 2010 Qualifying Bolivia 6 Argentina 1 highlights

Fabio will allow Wayne to be his 'crazy guy' .....?

Fabio will allow Wayne to be his 'crazy guy' .....?

This is what Fabio Capello will do about Wayne Rooney the next time England meet
up. Nothing. Nothing different, anyway.

Nothing that takes him to task for his tackle on Alexander Aliev of Ukraine, nothing that makes him feel that he must change the way he plays for England, nothing that will risk harnessing the spectacular, free talent that his coach (and a growing band of
disciples) feel may win England the World Cup in South Africa.

There are some players a manager must go with for all their faults or discard, and Rooney falls into this category. Capello is not a fool. He can see the danger, he will know that a reckless challenge like the one against Aliev, even though Rooney won the ball, could be interpreted harshly in tournament conditions and attract a red card
and, in that moment, England’s hopes would go with him.

Yet what is Capello to do? If the message to Rooney is that his temperament could lead to his absence and jeopardise England’s hopes, then leaving him out is not an
option.

Risk factor: Wayne Rooney shows his reckless side with the tackle on Ukraine's Aliev

Risk factor: Wayne Rooney shows his reckless side with the tackle on Ukraine's Aliev