IPL to take place outside India

The following Indian authorities inability to provide security has made BCCI to shift IPL outside India. In view of security as a reason stated by the Indian government , BCCI team announced their decision over shifting to another country.Though the new venue was not stated by the BCCI officials , the decision has been made at the emergency meeting held on Sunday. Many cricket boards have expressed their concern in hosting IPL matches , IPL officials said . BCCI said that they are forced to take this decision as Indian government failed to give an assurance for security to the IPL matches. Also they have stated that Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra government were also behind the decision of changing the place. Earlier these governments assured for security but later they have taken their assurance back . Security for the IPL matches is very important as it involves many International players. The seriousness of the security issue raised only after the Mumbai 26/11 attack made by the terrorists which caused the rage waves in International side.Indian Elections seem to have won the battle against Cricket and BCCI has decided to hold IPL matches either in South Africa or England. The event will primarily be a TV event and the direct connect of Indians with the IPL cricket stands snapped, or is it still live and kicking.

India record first Test win in New Zealand in 33 years

India's 10 wicket win broke India's 33 year Test jinx in New Zealand against them in 1st test match. Bhajji's 6 wicket made the host to end up the second innings by setting the mere 39 runs lead against India.

India scored 39 runs through Gambhir and Dravid after making New Zealand bowled out for 279 . McCullum scored half century in the second innings. Indian Team lead the series by 1-0 in the three match series .

Since 1976 , this was the India's first win in New Zealand that Dhoni brought for our Indians. Indian team are keen to win the series win against New Zealand for the first time since 1968 when they also recorded their maiden overseas Test series win.

The second Test slated to begin at Napier on Thursday.

South Africa to host ICC Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday decided that the Champions Trophy will be hosted by South Africa. The tournament will be held from Sept 24 to Oct 5 this year.

The ICC Board met via teleconference to discuss a recommendation of the ICC Chief Executives' Committee on the issue last week.

Sri Lanka offered to host the event but weather condition does not suit well which made ICC to look for the place change. The tournament was first decided to conduct at Pakistan but due to security issues and volatile situation , the event got postponed . Now the rights were given to South Africa in order to minimize risk and provide certainty for the entire event.

The duration of this year's ICC Champions Trophy has been fixed for sharp 12 days as on that basis there would be no room for reserve days.

Dravid equals Waugh's record of most catches

Rahul Dravid reached a special landmark on Wednesday when he took the catch of Martin Guptill in the slips off Zaheer Khan on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park.

Dravid equalled the previous record of Mark Waugh's 181 catches - the most in Test cricket. It took 132 Test matches for Dravid to reach this landmark.

This was India's first success of the day. Dravid standing at third slip fumbled a bit before securing this record equaling catch.

The new Zealand was all out for 279 . Vettori completed his century and join hands with Jesse Ryder, put on a record 186 runs for the seventh wicket partnership.At the end of the first day,India were 29/0 in their first innings, trailing the New Zealand score by 250 runs.

Kiwis bag consolatory 5th ODI, India win series

New Zealand on 14th March 2009 beat India by eight wickets in the fifth and final ODI match held at New Zealand of National Bank series .

Anyhow India clinched the series by winning three matches against them bringing the series to 3-1. Sehwag was declared as 'Man of the Series' for his spectacular and marvelous performance . Jesse Ryder was declared Man of the Match for the 5th ODI. Showing good performance in the final ODI, New Zealand part time bowlers toppled the strong Indian batting line-up, restricting India to put high score on the board.

Jesse Ryder has picked three wickets which brought the Indian team score to 149 .
Ryder claimed prized wickets of Yuvraj Singh, skipper Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan.
Both the teams would renew their rivalry in a three-match Test series starting March 18.

Australia stay No. 1 after series win

When Austrilian won the second Test by 175 runs at Kingsmead here on Tuesday , they bagged the Test series against South Africa. The series win by Australia helps them to bounce back after losing a home series against the same South Africa earlier in the season."I'm extremely proud of the players," Ponting quoted after they made series won against South Africa.Australia has placed their position at the top of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table now that it has an unassailable lead in the ongoing Test series in South Africa.Now that a series defeat for the proteas is unavoidable, Australia will take home the cheque of 175,000 dollars as they have reached the top position in Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship Rankings before the cut off date of April 1.

Proteas have now their chances of getting consolation price amount of 75000 dollars only if they win the 3rd test against Australia . But if Australia wins the third and final Test in Cape Town, South Africa will drop below India into third position and it will be the Indian team that claims the prize money for coming second in the rankings on the April 1 cut-off date.

Australia's wins is India's gain. Lets hope for the best.

Sachin Tendulkar at Madame Tussauds wax museum

Tendulkar`s triumphant image will go up at the famous waxwork museum in April, next to other cricketing greats such as retired West Indies batsman Brian Lara and Australian spinner Shane Warne, Tussauds said in a statement.Sachin will be the first Indian sportsperson to be featured in the famous wax museum.Tendulkar follows in the footsteps of famous Bollywood giants Amitabh Bachan, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and will join other cricket legends Brian Lara and Shane Warne to become the very first Indian sports personality to be potrayed.The figure will be created at Madame Tussauds studios in West London in the next three months at a cost of £150,000. The highest Test and one-day run-getter`s figure will also rub shoulders with sporting headliners such as David Beckham and Tiger Woods in the museum`s interactive sports zone.