SYDNEY: Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe is to make an announcement about his future, his manager said on Tuesday, amid mounting speculation he is to return to the pool for next year's Olympics in London. Manager David Flaskas said Thorpe, who retired in 2006 citing waning motivation, would address the media in Sydney on Wednesday "about his swimming future." "He'll let everyone know tomorrow," Flaskas said, refusing to be drawn on whether it was about a return to the sport. "Come along to the press conference and Ian can say what he wants to say." Media speculation of a comeback has been rife since Thorpe, 28, resumed swimming earlier this month to recuperate from a shoulder injury. Thorpe must be reinstated on the international drug testing register at least nine months before competing, meaning any decision on competing at the London Olympics would need to be taken soon.

Add to My Stories Sian Massey was on Monday night promised an imminent return to refereeing duty despite being sidelined for another week. Her absence from the latest list of appointments sparked fears the female official embroiled in football's sexism storm had been grounded indefinitely. Centre of the storm: Sian Massey walks off at MolineuxHowever, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials told Sportsmail: 'Sian will not be long away from returning.' Refereeing chiefs are at pains to counter claims that Massey has become an unfortunate victim of the controversy that cost Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray their jobs. Media crews are still camping at the assistant referee's door and a strong delegation of reporters had planned to cover the 25-year-old's aborted appearance in a non-League game last weekend. PGMO insiders say they are having to consider Massey's welfare as an individual as well as the integrity of the game in continuing

BIRMINGHAM: Simon Jones, a fast bowler whose England Test career was halted in its prime by one debilitating injury after another, wakes to a daily routine of strengthening exercises and icing his battle-weary limbs. He is the virtually forgotten spearhead of his country's glorious 2005 Ashes triumph over a previously dominant Australian team but at 32 refuses to believe his days representing England are over. True, Jones has accepted that the rigours of five-day Test cricket are now more than his battered knees and ankles can stand but international one-day and Twenty20 cricket, he says, are still well within his range. "I don't think I would ever hang my international boots up, not until I'm 40-odd. You never stop believing," Jones said in a telephone interview. He is understandably buoyant despite the almost relentless injury setbacks since the fourth Test against Australia six years ago this summer which marked his last England appearance. He has just

Add to My Stories Loan ranger: Daniel SturridgeBolton manager Owen Coyle has strengthened his attacking options by signing Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge on loan until the end of the season. Sturridge goes straight into the squad to face Wolves on Wednesday after seeing his first-team opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge. Coyle is delighted to have the 21-year-old on board after missing out in his pursuit of Arsenal's Carlos Vela, who opted to join West Brom. He said: 'I am really pleased to have Daniel with us. He is a terrific young talent and one of the most exciting strikers in the country. We are all looking forward to working with him.' Birmingham-born Sturridge was part of the Chelsea squad that won the league and cup double last term after beginning his career at Manchester City. Sturridge said: 'I spoke with the manager and he outlined what he hopes to achieve and his plans. 'It was an easy decision to sign for Bolton and I am looking forward to linki

LONDON: Chelsea signed Spain striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool on Monday in a 50 million pounds ($80 million) deal that shattered the British transfer record. Torres has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League champions, who announced the deal on their website 35 minutes after the official close of the January transfer window. "Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Fernando Torres on a five-and-a-half year contract," a statement on the Blues' website announced. The 26-year-old's transfer smashed the previous British record set less than an hour earlier when Liverpool paid Newcastle 35 million pounds ($56 million) to sign England striker Andy Carroll as Torres's replacement.

Add to My Stories Ewood Park bound: Ruben RochinaBlackburn have signed Barcelona striker Ruben Rochina for an undisclosed fee, and have also bagged Argentinian midfielder Mauro Formica on a three-and-a-half-year deal. The 19-year-old Rochina has signed a contract to keep him at Ewood Park until the summer of 2015. Blackburn boss Steve Kean told www.rovers.co.uk: 'Ruben is a genuine addition to our senior squad, a young player with great ability who can play in a number of attacking positions.'Rochina has scored twice in 13 appearances this season for Barcelona's B team, who play in the Spanish Segunda Division.Born in Valencia, he was part of the Barcelona youth system for nearly seven years after joining them from his hometown club. Kean said: 'He joins our elite development group alongside the likes of Phil Jones and Junior Hoilett and will compete for a place in the team from the word go. 'The fact we are able to sign young players from the likes of Barcelona is

LONDON: Chelsea have agreed a fee with Liverpool to sign Spain striker Fernando Torres, the Reds confirmed on their website on Monday. Torres will now discuss personal terms with the Premier League champions, who are reported to have offered a British record fee of around 50 million pounds ($80 million) for the former Atletico Madrid star. "Liverpool Football Club tonight confirmed they have agreed a fee with Chelsea for the sale of Fernando Torres," the statement read. "The player has now been given permission to speak to the London club." Torres had a transfer request rejected on Friday after two previous Chelsea bids were snubbed by the Reds. But Liverpool are on the verge of signing Newcastle striker Andy Carroll as a 35 million pounds ($56 million) replacement for Torres, which clears the way for Chelsea to get their man. As well as signing Torres, Chelsea also hope to land Brazilian defender David Luiz from Benfica before the deadline in a 21 millio

Add to My Stories Chelsea are on the brink of landing another huge transfer deadline day signing with the capture of Benfica defender David Luiz for a fee of 25million plus midfielder Nemanja Matic.The Blues' protracted move for Luiz had looked to have collapsed last week after a month of talks between the two sides.But Roman Abramovich's incredible spending splurge shows no sign ofhalting with the British transfer record-breaking 50m signing ofFernando Torres also imminent before tonight's 11pm deadline. On the move: David Luiz (right) is a central defender for Benfica and Brazil Makeweight: Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is moving to Benfica as part of the dealChelsea are due to pay around 20m up front to the Portuguese giants for Luiz, with another 5m due later.Luiz is a central defender who has won four caps for Brazil.Makeweight Matic, 22, is currently on loan at Vitesse Arnhem in Holland. The midfielder is a Serbian international but has only made two substitute app

MADRID: Former Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff said on Monday Real Madrid still have a chance at the league title despite going seven points behind Barcelona. Real Madrid crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Osasuna on Sunday, and they were all but written off for the Liga title by most of the Spanish sporting press. "I am not going to say that this Liga is decided, because it is not," Cruyff wrote in his weekly column for the northeastern Spanish regional daily El Periodico de Catalunya. "Seven points and the goal average are a lot, because Barca is not planning to give anything away. But beware, no-one should bury Madrid," he added. Jose Mourinho's squad will do everything they can to hang on so they have a hope of winning at the end of the season, he said. "But they have a problem, and it is called Barcelona," Cruyff added. "Pep Guardiola's boys are very good, they know what they are doing and they don't care w

WITH 60 over format, white traditional costume & red cherry, the biggest colloseum of cricket started on June 7, 1975 in England. Yes the Cricket World Cup. The Cricket World Cup is an international One Day International (ODI) competition in men's cricket. Organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the tournament has taken place every four years since it was first held in 1975 in England. For the first three editions it was called as Prudential Cup which was consequently played in England. History Of World Cup: 1975 : West Indies tasted the Glory of the First WC in 1975, continuing the trend in second edition as well in 1979. The 1975 world cup final was played between West Indies and Australia. Under the leadership of Clive Lloyd, WI won the finals by 17 runs. 1979:In 1979, again under the leadership of Clive Lloyd, West Indies reached the finals. This time, they defeated the host England by 92 runs. 1983: In 1983, a new rule of field circle within 30 yards away fro

Add to My Stories Luis Suarez will wear the famous No 7 shirt after completing his protracted 22.8million move from Ajax to Liverpool on transfer deadline day. Suarez, who becomes Kenny Dalglish's first signing since rejoining the club, arrived at Anfield on Monday before passing a medical and agreeing terms on a reported six-year deal worth an estimated 80,000 per week.And he will pull on the shirt number that Dalglish wore with pride during his unforgettable time as a Liverpool player. New home: Suarez arrives at Liverpool's training ground ahead of his move Speaking ahead of his move to Anfield, Suarez revealed:'I am happy. It is important for anybody to go to such a big club. It is a great opportunity for me.'It is a beautiful club. Everybody wants to play there. They always play Champions League or Europa League and belong to the top four clubs in the Premier League.'The Uruguayan arrives from Ajax with a formidable scoring record that saw him net 35 goals in

KOLKATA CRICKET fans, who were waiting for the February 27 India and England tie of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the Eden Gardens, are very disappointed because International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled out the match at the venue. ICC has has ruled out Eden Garden for this Cricket World Cup tie because of semi-finished stadium. BCCI has recommended the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore as the alternate venue for this match. International Cricket Council (ICC) told the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) that all concrete and structural steel work of media, broadcasters, officials, VIP areas and the main stand should be completed by February 7. An inspection team of ICC will visit the Eden Gardens on February 7 to review the progress. ICC also said if Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) missed the deadline of completion of all pending work in Eden Gardens, the other three non-India matches too will be moved out of Kolkata. Other three World Cup matches are sche

Add to My Stories Sunderland have confirmed that defender Paulo Da Silva has completed his move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza for an undisclosed fee. The Paraguay international, an integral part of their World Cup campaign in South Africa last summer, moved to the Stadium of Light from Mexican club Toluca in the summer of 2009 and made 20 appearances during his first season on Wearside. But the 30-year-old has found opportunities harder to come by this term, enjoying just three first-team outings, and will now switch to the Primera Division with 15th-placed Zaragoza. A statement on the Sunderland website said: 'Paraguayan defender Paulo Da Silva has joined Spanish side Real Zaragoza. 'Real have paid an undisclosed fee for the 30-year-old, who impressed for his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.' More... LIVE: Deadline day - follow all latest news as the January transfer window slams shut Scrap the window! LMA chief Bevan claims majority want it removed Sun

KOLKATA: As he gears up to live the dream of being in a World Cup squad, young Indian off-spinner R Ashwin says he is trying all he can to be of more utility by improving his batting and, more importantly, learning to handle pressure which "gets easily" to him. "I'm trying my best to be an asset to the side. I'm working hard on my batting and want to be a utility man for the side so that I can be a real asset to the side. Pressure gets to me easily. I am working hard to be calm in a pressure-filled situation," Ashwin said in an interview. The 24-year-old player's rise from obscurity to rank among the top spinners in two years time is no fluke but Ashwin says he is not quite sure whether he would actually get a chance to play in the World Cup starting February 19. "I'm not overly-excited or thinking of figuring in the playing XI in the World Cup. I don't know if I have a chance to make the playing XI. I will do whatever is there in my h

SEOUL: Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung said on Monday that he was retiring from international duty with South Korea to make way for younger players with "enormous potential". Park, who has won 100 caps and played in each of the past three World Cups, officially confirmed he was stepping down after national coach Cho Kwang-Rae announced the news on Friday. The 29-year-old said he had not set a date for his professional retirement and was thinking of playing for at least another three to four years. Park told a packed press conference it had been "an utmost honour" to play for his country over the course of 11 years. "But I am announcing my retirement to open more doors for younger, junior players who have to grow to replace me eventually," he said. "Like we have seen during the Asian Cup games, there are many young Korean players who have enormous potential, passion and talent like Koo Ja-Cheol, Ji Dong-Won and Son Heung-Min."

Add to My Stories So how long was Fernando Torres to wait, then? He has given Liverpool a raw deal for the best part of a year now and this does him no credit. Yet look at the seemingly inevitable transfer request from his point of view. He is 26. The ensuing four years could be as good as it gets for him. Can he really afford to gamble on Liverpool's next roll of the dice coming up aces? The restoration of Kenny Dalglish? It is meaningless to Torres right now. Dalglish might be an excellent influence, but Liverpool's hierarchy cannot even guarantee that he will be manager beyond May because they are yet to back him with a permanent role. We all think he will get the job and most hope so. He seems the right fit.Yet the initial intention of New England Sports Ventures was to appoint a younger man, long term, and there has so far been no announcement to the contrary. Torres is currently being asked to throw in his lot with a caretaker. Liverpool are not yet a stable club. Back

ROME: Inter Milan coach Leonardo denied his side have a problem in defence after they launched a remarkable comeback to defeat Palermo 3-2 at the San Siro. Fabrizio Miccoli and Antonio Nocerino gave Palermo a 2-0 half-time lead while Javier Pastore hit the post and had a penalty saved as the Sicilians threatened to overrun their illustrious hosts. But debutant Giampaolo Pazzini scored a brace as a second half substitute and Samuel Eto'o scored the winner from the penalty spot as the champions kept their Serie A title hopes alive. They sit nine points behind leaders and bitter city rivals AC Milan but with a game in hand. And although they have scored 19 goals in the Brazilian coach's eight games in charge, they have leaked 12. Under predecessor Rafael Benitez, Inter conceded only 14 goals in 15 league games, with Leonardo that figure is 10 in just six. However, the former Milan boss denies they have a problem at the back. "We gave away chances at the back, i

LOS ANGELES: The Boston Celtics gained a measure of revenge from last season's disheartening NBA Finals by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 109-96 on Sunday. In the first meeting between the rivals since the Lakers won a Game Seven duel to capture the NBA title, Paul Pierce scored 32 points and the East-leading Celtics overcame a season-high tying 41 from Bryant to triumph at the site of last summer's heartbreak. Boston (36-11) trailed by seven in the third, but Pierce caught fire with 12 straight Celtics points to help the visitors claim a 77-72 edge at the end of three quarters. A late assault by Bryant brought the Lakers (33-15) within four points in the final five minutes, but Boston got late baskets by Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who finished with 21, to clinch the game with a 16-4 run.

VILNIUS (Lithuania): Defending European champion Spain has drawn world championship runner-up Turkey plus basketball power and host Lithuania in the group stage of Eurobasket 2011. The three teams were pitted together in Group A in the draw Sunday, along with Britain, Poland and a qualifier. Serbia and France headline Group B, Greece and Croatia are in Group C, with Russia and Ukraine drawn in Group D. The tournament in Lithuania runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18. In all, 24 teams will compete - eight more than usual - with two from Finland, Hungary and Portugal still to qualify for the tournament.

The Indian junior boys team created history when they downed archrivals and defending champions Pakistan in the 15th Asian junior squash championships final held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. India have won the prestigious tournament for the first time in their history since the inception of the Asian championships in 1981. Playing to a packed crowd at the Sri Lankan Air Force base squash venue, the Indian players comprising Ramit Tandon, Abhishek Pradhan, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Vrishab Kotian rose to the occasion as they outmanoeuvred and outplayed the mighty Pakistanis. Indian No. 1 and captain Ramit Tandon who had been untested so far confirmed that he is certainly the most improved player in recent times with a superb display. Playing Danish Atlas Khan, the Pakistani No. 1, he showed no nerves in a match that lasted 90 minutes. After winning the first game 117 with his comprehensive finish shots, Ramit was pumped up. He lost the second game 6-11, but came back strongly in

BAHRAIN: World number nine Paul Casey claimed his first European Tour title since 2009 by winning the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions event on Sunday. The 33-year-old Briton carded a closing 68 for a 20-under-par total of 268 to finish a stroke ahead of Swede Peter Hanson (69) and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) at the Royal Golf Club. Briton Stephen Gallacher (67) was fourth on 270, with Dubai World Championship winner Robert Karlsson (66) of Sweden in fifth spot on 271. Casey said he now wants to win again before competing in the season's first major, the U.S. Masters in April. "My goal now is major championships, starting with Augusta, and it would be nice to crack on and get another win before the Masters," he told reporters. "That would really set me up and then maybe I can accomplish those goals I've set. Augusta is a great opportunity for me with the way the golf course sets up." Casey and playing partner Hanson were tied on the 72

Add to My Stories Wolves are poised to sign Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara on loan for the remainder of the season. The midlands club are expected to formally announce the capture of O'Hara in the next 24 hours.O'Harais understood to have already undergone a medical and the completion ofhis temporary switch to Molineux is expected to be a formality. On the move: O'Hara looks set to leave White Hart Lane to join WolvesThe 24-year-old had a spell on loan at Portsmouth last season but has not featured at first-team level at White Hart Lane this season because of a back injury. The former England Under-21 international has featured in two recent full-scale practice matches with Spurs and is eager to go out on loan again in order to regain full match sharpness. West Ham were also interested in signing O'Hara but appear set to be beaten in the battle to secure to his services. More... Tottenham outcast Keane set for deadline day move to West Ham Tottenham crock Woodgat

UNDER THE management of Pakistan Squash Federation league matches were played at three different venues of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Saturday. Accordingto a press release issued by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PHF) fourmatcheswere played in club category. In thefirst match Benazir Bhutto Club beat Safari Club,in the second match Roshan Khan Club beat Islamabad Club,thethird matchwaswonby Falcon Clubby beating Armyclub and in thefourthmatc,hIslambadfaceddefeat at the hands of Shlimarclub. Intheindiviuals category, theleaguematchesof Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 wereplayed. HamzaImtiaz of Safari clubbeat Memoon Qazi of (BB club) by3-1in the Under-15. The match of under-17 category waswonby Salman Hashmi (BB club)by beating Muntazir Mehdi (Safari Club) 3-1. Bilal Yousafof (BB club) beat M Tayyab (Safari Club) by 3-0 in the Under-19category of Individuals. In the seniorscatagory ofage between 19 to 35 years Haroon Tahir (Safari Club) beat Faizan Nawaz (BB Club) 3-2, Ilyas (RK Club)

SAN DIEGO: Britain's Justin Rose fumed with frustration after he undermined a superb display of shot-making with a balky putter in Saturday's third round of the PGA Tour event in San Diego. A double winner on the US circuit, the 30-year-old Englishman coped well with the firm, fast-running fairways on the South Course at Torrey Pines but he totalled 32 putts on the greens. "I am so frustrated," Rose said after he carded a level-par 72 to finish a sun-drenched day 10 strokes off the lead. "I am playing so well right now and that should have been a 66 for me out there today. I must have missed 12 putts inside six feet this week." Rose offset two birdies with two bogeys, one of them a three-putt from seven feet at the par-five sixth where he had lined up a birdie chance. "I know everyone is missing one or two (putts) but this is unbelievable," he said after posting a two-under total of 214. "I am so frustrated with the putter right now

SAN DIEGO: The dream ride taken by Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas on the 2011 PGA Tour showed no sign of stopping on Saturday when he upstaged former world number one Tiger Woods. Vegas, who won last week's Bob Hope Classic in only his fifth start on the U.S. circuit, outscored Woods by five shots after they played together in the third round of the PGA event in San Diego. The 26-year-old rookie from Maturin fired a three-under-par 69 to end a sun-kissed day at Torrey Pines three strokes off the lead while Woods tumbled out of contention with an erratic 74. "It's been a lot of fun," the ever-smiling Vegas told reporters after three birdies in the last six holes gave him a nine-under total of 207 on a firm and fast-running South Course. "It's always a lot of fun playing great and I feel like I'm playing pretty good golf right now. Today was an incredible day playing alongside Tiger Woods. I really enjoyed it a lot." Vegas, who had not met

Add to My Stories Kevin Pietersen has defended his decision to play in the Indian Premier League in spite of England's gruelling schedule. Having already played through a fiercely fought Ashes and one-day series in Australia, Pietersen will gain little rest after the upcoming World Cup. Instead, he will spend another two months on the sub-continent playing for the Deccan Chargers after being acquired at the auction for $650,000. Plenty to celebrate: Kevin Pietersen is looking forward to another IPL paydayThe competition, which runs from April 8 until May 22, finishes four days before England host Sri Lanka at Cardiff in the opening Test of the summer. That would mean Pietersen negotiating an entire English season without a break with both one-day and Test match series against Sri Lanka and India to be played. Yet he insists he claims the buzz and excitement of India's Twenty20 is too good to ignore. Good year for England: Kevin Pietersen in action against Australia'When yo

DOHA (Qatar): Japan came into the Asian Cup with plenty of challenges to overcome: a coach with no international experience, several new faces and a list of injuries that only increased during the tournament. But over the three weeks, the team gelled under former AC Milan and Juventus coach Alberto Zaccheroni and on Saturday won its fourth Asian Cup with a 1-0 victory over Australia. "I reminded my players what I said before leaving Japan: we go to Qatar, to the Asian Cup, to grow up but we got to win," Zaccheroni said. "We are a good team, the fact that we are younger does not mean we cannot win. We have played we great courage, we always tried to lead the game." It was fitting the winner was struck by little known substitute Tadanari Lee, a 25-year-old ethnic Korean who made his debut in the team's opening match against Jordan and scored his first international goal in the final. This was a team that had its established veterans - Keisuke Honda who

PARIS: French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno has reportedly said that the players responsible for the World Cup strike should never play again for the national team. According to L'Equipe newspaper, Jouanno said it is "unacceptable" that the players who led a training session boycott in South Africa last summer will be called back. "I can't understand that some people are hinting that the players who led the revolt in South Africa could be reintegrated back into the team," Jouanno was quoted as saying. "Regardless of their qualities, to bring them back would be unacceptable." The players boycotted training in protest at Nicolas Anelka being sent home from the tournament by team management after his profanity-laced tirade against then-coach Raymond Domenech during a 2-0 group loss to Mexico. France failed to make it out of the group stage and was widely criticized at home over the conduct of its players. Anelka was subsequently suspended f

Add to My Stories Matt Tubbs scored a goal that will livelong in the memory for Crawley fans as the non-league side became thefirst into the fifth round of the FA Cup for 17 years.Tubbs took his season's tally to 25 goals to put the Blue Square Premier side ahead, and the win could have been even more comfortable for the side from West Sussex if either Tubbs or Craig McAllister had converted second-half penalties. A day to remember: Crawley goalscorer Matt Tubbs and manager Steve Evans celebrate victory at Plainmoor Both sides finished with 10 men, asChris Zebroski was sent off for the hosts after an hour and Dean Howellfollowed seven minutes from time for Crawley, who now through to thelast 16.Tubbs' decisive goal came when hebeat the offside trap to latch on to a ball over the top from DannieBulman before slotting home past United goalkeeper Scott Bevan. Plainmoor silenced: Matthew Tubbs celebrates his clever lobThe Gulls number one kept his team in the tie with two spot-ki

"Mushy, bas ye ek hi wicket hai," bellowed Pakistan's combative wicket-keeper Moin Khan as Sachin Tendulkar arrived at the crease in the World Cup clash at Sydney in 1992. Despite the presence of other stalwarts in the team, Moin felt it prudent to alert leggie Mushtaq Ahmed about the benefits Pakistan would reap if they dismiss the then 18-year-old Tendulkar early. That Pakistan couldn't and Tendulkar scored a match-winning 54, is mere statistic. What was more revealing was the attention he commanded even at such a young age. Circa Centurion 2003, a raging Tendulkar was making a mockery of a sizeable target of 274 and a potent Pakistan bowling attack, en route to a regal 98. The knock wasn't without alarms though. While on 46, Akram deceived Tendulkar with a slower ball and the batsman checked his drive but Abdul Razzaq at mid-off jumped too late and dropped the catch. "B*****d, tereko pata hai batsmen kaun hai," was Akram's furious response

ITISashame for a nation where cricket is followed as a religion that its one of the biggest grounds has been dumped and prevented from hostingthe India versus England World Cup cricket match. In an unprecedented decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat on Friday summarily rejected Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB's) plea to give them time till February 7 to make the Eden Gardens 'match-fit' to host India's World Cup match against England on February 27. An ICC team which has earlier inspected the Eden on Tuesday has pointed out its apprehension towards the lethargic preparation going on the ground for the coming world cup and their clear view was that Eden Garden would not be able to get ready by February 27. Later taking action against the report submitted by inspecting team, ICC on Wednesday decided to cancel the scheduled match at Eden. However, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalimiya, wrote a plea to BCCI pr

INDIANPREMIERLeague, the brand in the making for the first 2 years, one which brought about the commercial side of cricket in India, now stands; once again I may add, amidst controversies and fall outs. This time around it is the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, who is at the epicentre of this fiasco, N.Sreenivasan. Interestingly, before I started writing this piece. I wanted to know more about this guy and so I searched and found that Wikipedia describes him as "an Indian industrialist, chemical engineer, sports administrator and socialite who is the Managing-Director of the India Cements Limited and owner of the Chennai Super Kings Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team. He is also currently the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India." Now, the first four cognomens does showcase the versatility of the person which has to be well respected but the last four keys does ring some bells. The wrong bells of course. IPL auctions being rigge