Big surprise that no one picked Ganguly: Akram

The snub to Sourav Ganguly in the IPL players auction shocked his former Kolkata IPL team bowling coach Wasim Akram, who said he expected any of the other franchise to pick the ex-India captain for his "experience and leadership qualities".

In a major embarrasment for Ganguly, he was not picked by his home team Kolkata Knight Riders or any of the other franchises after two rounds of bidding last week.

Sourav Ganguly.

"Ganguly is a dear friend of mine. I thought he would be picked up by some franchise for his experience and leadership qualities. But it was a big surprise when he was totally ignored," Akram said from Karachi, hinting that the IPL Kolkata team never had plans to hire the Prince of Kolkata.

If the snub to Ganguly shocked Akram, the former Pakistan skipper was more surprised when there were no takers for dashing West Indian batsman Chris Gayle.

"I just can't believe it. Gayle is a game-changer but probably never fit the scheme of things for many teams. Maybe, teams think that Gayle does not help youngsters in the side," said Akram.

Akram believes IPL Kolkata have made a gamble by buying injury-plagued Australian tearaway pacer Brett Lee in the IPL auction last weekend.

"Lee is part of Australia's World Cup plans. He is playing Twenty20 in the KFC Big Bash. But there is certainly a risk involved with him or any other fast bowler for that matter. He might have been out of action for a year and a half but he is now fit and hungry. He is surely a threat to any opposition and he is a kind of gamble that any franchise would love to take," he said.

Akram said it was bull's eye for KKR when Yusuf Pathan was bagged for USD 2.1 million.

"KKR definitely had a plan to catch top marquee Indian players. But I think they had planned for one and got two.

Both (Gautam) Gambhir and Yusuf are match-winners. Gambhir is a good mix of calmness and aggression. Yusuf, on the other hand, is a useful bowler and a very good fielder," Akram said.

- With PTI inputs

No IPL team possible in Kolkata without Sourav Ganguly: Shah Rukh

DURBAN: Kolkata Knight Riders' owner and Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan on Monday said he would try and find a role for Sourav Ganguly in his IPL team after the former India skipper remained unsold.

Ganguly, who led KKR in the last edition, was left red-faced as none of the 10 franchisees showed interest in buying him at the two-day auction in Bangalore.

"I would love it, I would love Sourav to be an integral part. You don't have a team in Kolkata without him. So, I will speak to Dada when I get back," Shah Rukh said.

The fans of Ganguly on Sunday burnt Khan's effigies in Kolkata protesting his exclusion from the team.

Shah Rukh refused to speak on why other teams ignored the former India captain.

"I don't think I should be commenting on the nine other people. There are 350 to 400 players. There are 10 teams with think-tanks varying in hundred of numbers, the permutations and combinations. I don't think any of us can comment really on who should pick who? I don't think we have the right to do that.

"Auction is actually a chance like. It is very difficult to be completely confirmed on what you do in the auction. So things go wrong, kind of money you have, which players come first, so lots of decisions have to be made," he said.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Venues

ICC Cricket World Cup Venue Guide will be placed here. The ICC World Cup cricket 2011 will be played across 13 venues from the 19th of February to the 2nd of April. These 13 venues are divided into the three co-hosts, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Pakistan was to host the World Cup as well, but security concerns in the country meant that the tournament was awarded only to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This also meant that each of the countries have more games to host.

8 of the games will be hosted by Bangladesh, 12 by Sri Lanka and the remaining 29 matches will see India as the host.

The 13 venues in question are Kolkata, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore (all from India), Hambantota, Colombo and Kandy (all from Sri Lanka) and Chittagong and Dhaka (Bangladesh).

The highest capacity of any venue is that of the Eden Gardens in Kolkata where 75k spectators can sit and watch the game, while the planned capacity of the revamped Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is 45000. Feroz Shah Kotla is at 48000, Motera in Ahmedabad at 54k and Nagpur at 45k. The Wankhede in Mumbai will host four games, including the finals of the tournament. 

Chittagong Divisional Cricket Stadium Chittagong, Bangladesh

Speaking of venues of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, a number of matches are scheduled to take place in Bangladesh. Therefore try and make it to the Chittagong Divisional Stadium if you want to enjoy world class cricket in the lap of luxury. The seating arrangements, all modern day amenities, sufficient parking space makes this ground a favorite amongst foreign visitors. Moreover the location of the stadium makes it all the more accessible to cricket lovers coming from all parts of the world.

Start packing and book a seat for yourself if you want to be part of all the live action during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Wankhede Stadium Cricket Stadium Mumbai, India

All new renovated Wankhede Stadium promises to be one of the best venues in the country. Newly installed seats, clean washrooms, parking area have become the major highlights of this world class cricket stadium. In fact the capacity of the stadium has increased greatly after rebuilding the north and southern stands.

Travelling to and from the stadium won’t take too long as there are a number of quality hotels around the stadium. Once the match is over you can head out for a little shopping or you may soak in the happening night life of this metro city.

So book your tickets in advance so as to make sure you get the best seats in the stadium.

Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium Nagpur, India

This edition of the World Cup promises to be extra special since the tournament is making a comeback to the Subcontinent after twelve long years. BCCI and respective organizers have ensures all the venues are in top shape. The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium is one of the best examples in this respect.

Often termed as the new VCA stadium, this particular venue is located in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Once you are there just look around and you will come across a number of cheap and luxurious hotels. The stadium on the other hand offers some unique amenities like wi-fi environment, parking space apart from a range of other requests. All these factors makes this stadium a must visit for everyone.

Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium Dhaka, Bangladesh

Most cricket lovers are willing to go to the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Bangladesh to catch their favorite cricket stars in action. One good thing about this is you may actually save a lot of money considering the transportation and accommodation cost in Dhaka, Bangladesh is quite low. In fact you can find a number of accommodation options near the stadium if you want to cut down on the transportation time. Coming back to the stadium itself it has probably the best drainage system amongst all stadiums in the sub continent. Apart from this other facilities like parking space, favorable seating layouts all make this stadium perfect for hosting a World Cup Match.

Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium Ahmedabad, India

To begin with you can start your journey with the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Gujarat.  The favorable location of the stadium lets you move on to other venues with the utmost of ease once the match ends.  Coming back to the stadium, the Sardar Patel Stadium has become a regular venue for ODIs and Test Matches since it assures some of the best amenities. Enough parking space, comfortable seats and friendly people around will ensure you have a wonderful time while witnessing the action on the field. The hotels located nearby may also act as a huge advantage in your favor.

R Premadasa Cricket Stadium Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sleepless nights of hard work on part of the organizers gives you the opportunity of enjoying an exciting tournament in the best way possible. The venues hosting the matches are exquisite and have some of the best facilities around. The R. Premadasa Stadium is one of the main forerunners in this respect. No wonder people from all over the world love to visit this stadium.

The R. Premadasa stadium resembles a concrete bowl and is the biggest stadium in Sri Lanka. Located in Colombo, you can reach the stadium with ease even before the first ball is bowled. So grab a ticket and fly down to the beautiful isle of Sri Lanka and be part of this celebration of cricket.

Punjab Cricket Association Cricket Stadium Mohali, India

If the idea of visiting all venues seems to impractical then try and visit the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. Located in Mohali, just outside Chandigarh this stadium is a favorite amongst international cricket lovers owing to its proximity to the airport. You can also find out ample lodging options near the stadium.

The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium is marked unique because of its low light pillars. The lush green outfield and a lively pitch create quite a spectacle for the crowd. Excellent facilities offered by the stadium are only an added reason for watching matches at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Kandy, Sri Lanka

One of the biggest highlights of the 2011 World Cup would be the venues schedules to host some crackling matches between the world’s cricketing giants. Out of the venues in Sri Lanka, you have to watch out for the matches hosted by Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Located in Kandy, not only is the stadium scheduled to host some crackling encounters, the amenities offered by the venue makes it a must visit for all foreign visitors. The spacious and comfortable seats along with the ambience add to the experience of watching the match. Don’t forget to catch a glimpse of the outfield covered by a stretch of blue grass. Traveling to and back from the stadium is fairly simple thanks to the well connected roads of the city.

MA Chidambaram Cricket Stadium Chennai, India

Almost all the venues fixed to host the matches are truly world-class in every respect imaginable. But if you really want to fly down to India to catch a match then perhaps M.A. Chidambaram Stadium would be your best option. Its favorable location makes it a very good choice for foreign visitors. An excellent ground, properly shaded galleries, parking space and superb facilities makes this ground perfect for major cricketing action. Don’t forget to have a look around the city of Chennai after the match is over.

Don’t waste time thinking of what to do or you may have to miss out on the best seats of the stadium.

Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium Hambantota, Sri Lanka

A large number of people have been enquiring about the venues scheduled to host major matches during next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup. In fact most people enquire about a certain Suriyawewa Stadium.

One major reason behind such enquiries is Suriyawewa Stadium is one of the newer stadiums that have been set up especially for 2011 World Cup. Located in Hambantota, Sri Lanka this entire stadium has a capacity of about thirty two thousands spectators. The stadium offers all of the modern day amenities like comfortable & well positioned seats, parking space and everything expected of an International Venue. Besides this reaching the stadium will never be a problem as most of the hotels are situated nearby only.

Therefore my suggestion would be to catch both the matches to be held at the Suriyawewa Stadium and may be you can explore the beautiful island of Sri Lanka afterwards.

Feroz Shah Kotla Cricket Stadium New Delhi, India

Amongst the venues in India, the Feroz Shah Kotla is one stadium that deserves special mention. The organizers have made sure spectators have a gala time watching the sporting even without breaking a sweat in the stands. Supreme seating arrangements, sufficient perking space along with all the modern amenities makes this stadium an excellent host for any international match. Moreover located in New Delhi, the capital of the country commuting between your stadium and your hotel won’t be a problem at all.  You can also go for a short sightseeing trip after the match gets over.

Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium Kolkata, India

The list of venues assigned to host the World Cup matches is truly impressive to say the least. One of the first names that come to mind in this respect is Eden Gardens. Located in Kolkata, West Bengal- the Eden Gardens boasts of being the largest stadium in the country in terms of seating capacity. A full crowd during the matches creates an electric atmosphere around the ground. Recent upgrades mean you can enjoy the game up-close and personal while being comfortably seated in the gallery seats.

Located in the Dalhousie area, reaching the stadium won’t be much of a hassle from your hotel or from the air port for that matter. So pack your bags and head out to experience a memorable cricket tournament.

Chinnaswamy Stadium Cricket Stadium Bangalore, India

Located in the beautiful Garden City of Bangalore, Chinnaswamy Stadium has been a crowd puller for many years now. A massive fifty five thousand seating capacity and state-of-the-art amenities makes this stadium one the best venues of the tournament. The well connected roads help you reach the stadium in time irrespective of where you choose to stay. You can also choose an accommodation facility close to the actual stadium. Finally, spoil yourself in the city’s night life once the match is over.

IPL CSK Players Squad List

Chennai Superkings official website

    *  MS Dhoni (retained)
    * Suresh Raina (retained)
    * M Vijay (retained)
    * Albie Morkel (retained)
    * Michael Hussey
    * Wriddhiman Saha
    * Dwayne Bravo
    * Doug Bollinger
    * R. Ashwin
    * S Badrinath
    * Scott Styris
    * Ben Helfenhaus
    * Jogindar Sharma
    * Nuwan Kulasekara
    * Sudeep Tyagi
    * Suraj Randiv
    * George Bailey
    * Faf du Plessis

IPL RR Players Squad List

Rajasthan Royals Official website 

   * Shane Warne (retained)

    * Shane Watson (retained)
    * Ross Taylor
    * Rahul Dravid
    * Johan Botha
    * Paul Collingwood
    * Shaun Tait
    * Pankaj Singh

IPL DD Players Squad List

Delhi Daredevils Official website

    * Virender Sehwag (retained)
    * Irfan Pathan
    * David Warner
    * Naman Ojha
    * James Hopes
    * Mornie Morkel
    * Aaron Finch
    * Mathew Wade
    * Ajit Agarkar
    * Ashok Dinda
    * Umesh Yadav
    * R Von Der Merwe
    * Venugopal Rao
    * Andrew McDonald
    * Traves birt
    * Robert Frylinck
    * Colin Ingram

IPL RCB Players Squad List

Royal Challengers Official website

    * Virat Kohli (retained)
    * Tillakartane Dilshan
    * Zaheer Khan
    * AB de Villiers
    * Daniel Vettori
    * Saurabh Tiwary
    * Dirk Nannes
    * C Pujara
    * C Langevelot
    * Luke Pomersbach
    * Abhimanyu Mithun
    * Johan Van Der Wath
    * Rilee Rossouw
    * Nuwan Pradeep
    * Jonathan Vandiar
    * Mohd. Kaif

IPL DC Players Squad List

Deccan Chargers Official website

    * Kevin Pietersen
    * Cameroon White
    * Kumar Sangakkara
    * JP Duminy
    * Shikhar Dhawan
    * Ishant Sharma
    * Dale Steyn
    * Pragyan Ojha
    * Amit Mishra
    * Daniel Christian
    * Manpreet Gony
    * Chris Lynn
    * Juan Theron
    * Michael Lumb

IPL KKR Players Squad List

KKR Official website

    * Gautam Gambhir
    * Yusuf Pathan
    * Jacques Kallis
    * Brad Haddin
    * Shakib Al Hasan
    * Brett Lee
    * Eon Morgan
    * Manoj Tiwary
    * L Balaji
    * Jaidev Unadkat
    * Ryan Ten Doeschate
    * James Pattinson

IPL KXIP Players Squad List

Kings XI Punjab official website 

  * Yusuf Pathan
    * Adam Gilchrist
    * Shaun Marsh
    * David Hussey
    * Dinesh Karthik
    * Stuart Broad
    * Abhishek Nayar
    * Praveen Kumar
    * Ryan Harris
    * Piyush Chawla
    * Dimitri Mascarenhas
    * Nathan Rimmington

IPL Sahara Pune Warriors Players Squad List

Pune IPL team official website 

    * Yuvraj Singh
    * Graham Smith
    * Robin Uthappa
    * Tim Pane                                                                         
    * Angelo Mathews
    * Ashish Nehra
    * Callum Ferguson
    * Wayne Parnell
    * Mitchell Marsh
    * Jerome Taylor
    * Alfonso Thomas
    * Jesse Ryder
    * Murali Kartik

IPL MI Players Squad List

                                      Mumbai Indians Official Website


    * Sachin Tendulkar (retained)
    * Harbhajan Singh (retained)
    * Kieron Pollard (retained)
    * Lasith Malinga (retained)
    * Rohit Sharma
    * Andrew Symonds
    * David Jacobs
    * James Franklin
    * Munaf Patel
    * Clint Mckay
    * Aiden Blizzard
    * Moises Henriques

IPL Team Kochi Players Squad List

Kochi Team Official website   

Mahela Jayawardene
    VVS Laksman
    Brendon McCullam
    Sreesanth
    RP Singh
    Parthiv Patel
    Ravindra Jadeja,
    Steven Smith
    Muttiah Muralitharan
    Ramesh Powar
    Brad Hodge
    T Perera
    Vinay Kumar
    S O’Keefe
    Owais Shah
    Michael Klinger
    John Hastings