KKR should retain Ganguly in IPL IV

Amidst the reports of Sourav Ganguly's possible release from KKR in IPL IV, former Bengal skippers Sambaran Banerjee and Gopal Bose have said that the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise might lose its support base in Kolkata in absence of its most popular sporting icon.

"Sourav is the best option to lead KKR in the upcoming IPL. I don't understand the rumors about his possible release by the team management. It is really needless and unwanted. Team wants him the most," Sambaran Banerjee, a former national selector and under whom Ganguly made his first-class debut told PTI Bhasha from Kolkata.

There are rumors that KKR have decided to let Kolkata's favourite son be up for auctions and not retain him. More importantly, they won't retain any player although they are keen on retaining explosive West Indian opener Chris Gayle.

"If Sourav is not there, KKR will lose the sentimental attachment that people of Bengal share with the team."

"I doubt whether they will be able to attract good crowds during IPL matches if Sourav is not there. KKR will face a lot of problems in his absence," said the veteran who was instrumental in Ganguly's comeback in the Indian team in 1996.

Similarly another former captain and staunch Ganguly backer Gopal Bose, has said that the former India captain is to Bengal what like Sachin is for Mumbai.

"We cannot imagine the Mumbai team in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar. Similarly Sourav is the face of Kolkata. He is the biggest sporting icon Bengal has ever produced. People are emotionally attached with him. The team management can conduct polls and more then 90% people will vote for Sourav," he said.

"He played well in the previous season and the most amazing part was his fielding."

Banerjee has said that Ganguly does not need to prove anything to anybody. He also hoped that KKR can reach the semi-final in the coming season under his captaincy.

IPL Governing Council to meet on Today

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council will meet on November 17 at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Recreation Centre at the Bandra Kurla Complex here, a Cricket Board official said.

Refusing to reveal the agenda of the meeting, a governing council member told PTI that a decision on the beleaguered Kochi IPL franchisee was not expected during the meeting.

"The franchisee has been given a 30-day notice. A decision cannot be taken before that," the member said.

The BCCI last month gave a 30-day notice to the Kochi IPL consortium to sort out its internal differences and get its ownership structure in order.

SA won by 6 wickets against Pakistan in the first T20

Fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe and off-spinner Johan Botha took three wickets apiece to help South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets in the first of two Twenty20 matches on Tuesday.

Tsotsobe, with a career-best 3-16, and skipper Botha (3-31) led a spirited South African bowling to restrict Pakistan to a paltry 119 at the Abu Dhabi Stadium in a match whose income will go to flood victims in Pakistan. Over two million people were displaced in the worst-ever floods in Pakistan.

Jean-Paul Duminy hit an elegant 41 while Colin Ingram remained unbeaten with 46 as South Africa reached the target after losing three early wickets for 26. The two left-handers shared a solid 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket after Faster Shoaib Akhtar gave Pakistan some hope with the quick wickets of opener Loots Bosman and AB de Villiers in the 3rd over.

Ingram hit two towering sixes and four boundaries during his 38-ball knock. Duminy hit five boundaries as the two dominated the Pakistan bowling which initially looked threatening. Botha said he was happy to lead the series. "It was a clinical performance and I am happy at the way the young guns stepped in after we lost three early wickets especially Ingram and Duminy," said Botha. Duminy, who also took two beautiful catches, was declared man-of-the-match.

Earlier, Tsotsobe and off-spinner Botha bowled tightly to derail Pakistan, who won the toss and batted on a flat pitch.

Misbah-ul-Haq, recalled after being axed following the World Twenty20 in May this year, top-scored with 27 with a six and two boundaries. Captain Shahid Afridi hit a rapid seven-ball 25 before he became one of Botha's three victims. Pakistan had raced to 16 in the second over before Tsotsobe removed openers Imran Farhat (10) and Shahzaib Hasan (nine) in the sixth.

Botha then removed Mohammad Hafeez (13), Afridi and Abdul Razzaq (four) to end Pakistan's hopes of reaching a respectable total. Pakistan coach Waqar Younis was disappointed over the poor batting. "We scored 25-30 runs less than we expected," said Waqar, whose team lost the last six wickets for a mere 35 runs. We need to bat with strategy in the next game."

This is Pakistan's home series shifted to United Arab Emirates due to security fears. The two teams meet in the second Twenty20 on Wednesday.

They then play the first two one-day internationals and the second Test in Abu Dhabi. Dubai will stage the last three one-day and the first Test.

No second chance for Rajasthan Royals: Shashank Manohar

BCCI president Shashank Manohar dismissed speculations that past IPL team Rajasthan Royals will get a lifeline from the parent body after the owners wrote a letter to BCCI demanding a second chance.

The champions of the 1st edition of IPL 2008, were expelled from the cash-rich league last Sunday on grounds on a variety of irregularities along with another high profile franchise Rajasthan Royals.

"They may have written a letter but where does the question of revoking the decision come up?" BCCI president Manohar told PTI when contacted at his Nagpur residence.

Manohar further added, "We have taken a final decision. That remains and no further decisions will be taken in this regard."

Last Sunday after the IPL governing council meeting Manohar had told reporters that there were violations in agreement and breach of contract on the part of the franchise that has led to the expulsion. There were discrepancies regarding the shareholding outline and ownership transfers which the board claimed were not sorted out.

Brett Lee signs up for New Zealand domestic T20 stint

Australian faster Brett Lee has signed to play domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand later this year with the Wellington Firebirds, the club said Monday.

Brett Lee, looking for as much match-time as possible as he seeks a career swansong at ICC World Cup 2011, will entrance for Wellington against Auckland on December 14, Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen said.

"It’s marvelous to have secured the services of Brett and his record speaks for itself," Larsen said.

"He's a gifted all-round sportsperson who has proven himself a true match winner for Australia in over a decade at the highest level."

The 33-year-old will miss the first half of the New Zealand domestic competition because of prior commitments to his home state New South Wales but will play five matches and be available for the final on January 2.

Lee retired from Test cricket earlier this year after a string of injuries but is worried to cap his international career by appearing for Australia at the World Cup 2011.

Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals agreements are terminated

In a radical step, the Indian Cricket Board unanimously decided to terminate the franchise agreements of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, while thrifty the newly-inducted Kochi team.

The Kochi franchisee has been issued a notice and has been given 10 days time by the BCCI, asking them to decide all their disputes.

The decision means that the 4th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will feature eight teams for the time being despite the addition of two new teams in Kochi and Pune. If Kochi is also scrapped, then of course there will be only 7 teams.

The decision was taken at disaster meeting of the IPL Governing council at MCA Recreation Centre here.

"It was unanimously decided that the franchise agreements with Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals be terminated forthwith based on the Legal opinions obtained by BCCI in the matters," the BCCI said in a release.

"It was further unanimously decided to issue a notice to the unincorporated joint venture holding the Kochi franchise calling upon them to resolve all their disputes and form a company which will hold the IPL franchise rights."

"Accordingly, P R Raman, advocate for BCCI has been given instructions to issue all the three notices," BCCI said.

Zimbabwe in South Africa 2010, Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time (GMT)	Place
Oct 08	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 1st T20I	16:00*	Bloemfontein
Oct 10	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I	12:30	Kimberley
Oct 15	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI	12:30*	Bloemfontein
Oct 17	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI	08:00	Potchefstroom
Oct 22	South Africa v Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI	12:30*	Benoni

* - Day-night Match....