Friday 8th April, 2011 15 Dhoni satisfied with new-look CSK come. As a cricketer, if he doesn’t get it, Repeat everything nobody will. He is known in places where When asked what was next on his cricket is not known.” agenda, Dhoni, who has already won the CSK owner Gurunath Meiyappan IPL and the Champions League crown honoured the Indian skipper with a with CSK, apart from his World Cup memento for his successful World Cup success, replied “I don’t mind repeating campaign. Mr. Meiyappan also outlined everything.” CSK’s policy during the IPL player auc- The scheduling that sandwiches the tions, saying that the focus was on ‘retain- current edition of the IPL between the ing the core team.’ World Cup and India’s tour of West Providing the latest on the injury- Indies and England, has come in for front, Mr. Meiyappan said: criticism and Dhoni admitted that “Unfortunately Doug Bollinger is injured fatigue was a concern. and is expected to join the squad on April “It does affect the performance of 16 and will be missing the first three players. The physical factor you can bat- games.” tle. Mentally and emotionally, you are drained. It will play a role,” said Dhoni. Right personnel The option to play an extra ‘keeper While admitting that the likes of (Wriddhiman Saha) to allow Dhoni Muttiah Muralitharan (Kochi Tuskers) some rest has often been mooted, but and Laxmipathi Balaji (Kolkata Knight the skipper said it was a tough call. Riders) will be missed, Dhoni said that in “You want to feature your best XI. To Tim Southee, Dwayne Bravo, Scott Styris rest, I will have to field one more ‘keep- and Francois du Plessis, the side had the er and that is difficult to see so. It is not right personnel to launch its title defence. about rest when you are playing profes- “The new team looks good. It is not sional cricket,” said Dhoni. about how good a team looks on paper, it is about how good they are on the field,” Comic book said Dhoni. A monthly comic based on CSK was Murali, the perfect NEW SEASON, NEW LOOK: Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan and Dhoni went on to trace the outline of launched and Aircel Chief Marketing skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni display the jersey the champion team will sport in the batting order CSK was likely to Officer Rahul Sehgal presented the first Gentleman the Indian Premier League which begins today. employ, barring injury and poor form. copy to Dhoni. Come Murali, let me shake your hand “One of the opening slots is empty (the Ravi Chawla of Gulf Oil (president, I’ve admired you through the years Chennai: India’s World Cup-winning Speaking at a function which other being occupied by M. Vijay). lubricants) presented Dhoni with his I have always been a cricket fan captain M. S. Dhoni backed Sachin launched Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) (Michael) Hussey or Anirudha No. 7 jersey for the current edition. Applauding our team with cheers Tendulkar’s candidature for the Bharat Indian Premier League IV campaign, the (Srikkanth) can do it. The other roles, till Coach Stephen Fleming was also pres- Much has been said about your skill Ratna, while interacting with the media, team’s skipper said “He (Tendulkar) is No. 7 are fixed. (Suresh) Raina, Badri and ent during the interaction. And accolades have poured in here on Wednesday, The Hindu reported the ideal candidate. He has served the me, then Albie (Morkel) and Anirudha.” The Hindu is the media partner for Don’t want to feel redundant but will on Thursday. country for 21 years with a few more to Chennai Super Kings. Say what I feel within Cricket is just another game It’s not what I write about You have always been a Gentleman When batters you send ‘home’ Afridi cops a Never seen the bullish triumph in your face Or a clenched fist when taking a wicket But always a smile mixed with grace knock over TV You know it wasn’t war, but cricket Keep on smiling as life goes on Be ever involved in the game heart-to-heart That is for what you were born Do all you can, just the same Pakistan’s cricket captain G’bye Murali, it’s not farewell Shahid Afridi has been criticised You shining Son of Mother Lanka for saying Indians do not have For time will show what you are ‘’large and clean hearts.” like his What’s in store, we cannot tell countrymen. ‘’They [Indians] will You’ll always be a STAR never have hearts like Muslims Wishing you a bright future and Pakistanis,’’ he told a Ninette Fernando, Pakistani TV show, according to Moratuwa. the news agency PTI. “I don’t think they have the large and clean hearts that Allah has given us.” Afridi had been Warne quite complimentary about the Indian crowd following the loss in the World Cup semi-final in Mohali denies India last week, but on air criticised Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman coach talk Malik for warning the Pakistani team not to get involved in match- fixing, and Indian opening bats- man Gautam Gambhir, who vowed to dedicate the victory in the World Cup final to victims of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. “I think they were very stupid comments by Malik and Gambhir,’’ Afridi said. ‘’I wasn’t expecting this from Gautam … What do you know about who carried out the Bombay attacks?” Former Pakistan skipper Aamir Sohail said Afridi should not have made the remarks just Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan, left, talks with chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ijaz Butt, during a ceremony to pay after the goodwill generated in the tribute to Pakistani international umpire Aleem Dar, in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday, April 6, 2011. aftermath of the semi-final clash. (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary) ‘’His statement is kind of imma- tureish and at the same time untimely,” Sohail said. ICC CWC Shane Warne Australian spin great Shane Warne on Wednesday denied media reports that he was interested in The final face-off scores the highest coaching World Cup champions India, ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ BY FATEMA RAJKOTWALA million viewers tuned in from TV reported Thursday, on its online edi- The high voltage ICC Cricket World homes that have Terrestrial tion. Cup 2011 final match between India and Connections. In the Cable & Satellite “Just got told on bus - apparent- Sri Lanka delivered a rating point of community 120.53 million viewers ly I put my hand up to coach India. 23.21 TVR on an all-India level in the tuned in, while 18.4 million viewers Wow - first I have heard of it - Sorry C&S 4+ markets. This was comfortably tuned in fromTV homes that have to disappoint but never said that!!!” higher than the previous high point of Digital (Set Top Box) connections. On Warne tweeted. 20.98 TVR match average for the India- the whole, a total of 135.43 million Leg-spinner Warne, 41, is in Pakistan match and significantly high- Indians tuned it to watch the India-Sri India to take part in the Indian er than the 2007 numbers. Lanka Finals. The total number of Premier League, where he leads the Rajasthan Royals franchise in the All in all, the tournament has out- viewer count for the India–Pakistan lucrative Twenty-20 competition, done expectations by peaking at 35.91 match stands at 130.06 million. starting today. TVR in the most expensive and crucial The top three states in terms of Indian media reports earlier match of the tournament and opened viewership response were Maharashtra Wednesday, said Warne had shown up a number of possibilities for adver- at number one, Uttar Pradesh coming an interest in the job. tisers that could be explored for the in at second position and West Bengal “It is a very difficult job to be months to come. at third. India coach, it is never easy,” Warne As a tournament, the ICC Cricket During the final, the official broad- was quoted as having said in ‘The World Cup 2011 scored an overall aver- caster, ESS earned ratings of 11.10 TVR Mail Today’ newspaper. age match rating in these market for Star Cricket tapping into a viewer- “But with India doing so well, it is a lot easier to take over right now parameters of 3.83 TVR. In comparison, ship count of about 68 thousand. Star Australian cricketer Brett Lee bowls dur- than it has been in the past. I’ll the World Cup in 2007 managed an aver- Sports earned a rating of 8.13 TVR enjoy working with the Indian age tournament rating of 2.02 TVR. reaching out to about 53 thousand view- ing a practice session in Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 6, 2011. Australia will cricket team for sure,” Shane Warne In terms of pure viewership num- ers, while DD1 scored a rating of 4.35 play three one Day Internationals against was quoted as having said. Shahid Afridi bers, as per data released by TAM TVR touching an audience base of Bangladesh beginning April 9. (Russ) Sports for C&S 4 + markets, up to 1.49 about 38 thousand. (AP Photo/ Pavel Rahman)