IPL Games to Last 15 minutes more | IPL seven and half minute break

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Games will now take longer with the introduction of a 'time out' but
there will be no action at all during the added time

Fans who have become accustomed to Twenty20 matches lasting just three
hours are in for a surprise during the second season of the IPL - they
will now last three-and-a-quarter hours. Part of the appeal of the
shortest form of the game is the non-stop action but IPL games will
now take longer and there will be no action at all during the added
time.

The IPL are planning to market the added time as an 'innovation' by
calling it a tactical 'time out' but the fact that each innings will
now come to a halt for seven-and-a-half minutes after exactly 10 overs
makes it neither tactical nor, indeed, practical.

"It is a move that is driven completely and totally by commercial
objectives," a senior production official told Cricinfo. "It is
designed purely to make even more money by selling airtime. Nobody
could argue that this adds any cricketing value to the tournament or
that it can be in the viewers' interest, either in the stadium or
watching at home," the official said.

The seven-and-a-half minute break will see the stadium crowd
entertained by a live band while television audiences will watch
three, separate two-and-a-half minute segments, two of which will be
sold commercially. The third will show the teams taking drinks and
discussing 'tactics' to add some validity to the argument for the
'time out.'

While one section will be compulsory, mainstream advertising, the
other will be set aside for 'special projects'. Queen Rania of Jordan,
well known for her agenda of social reform and progression, will lead
the way with a series of short films aimed at African children
expounding the importance of education.

The IPL can justifiably claim that the project is well intentioned and
for a good cause. And at approximately $1million per episode, it's
also very lucrative. There are 118 two-and-half minute slots for sale.

Production teams have also been told that they need to fit 2000
seconds (around 33 minutes) of advertising into every match, a task
described by a different member of the production team as "virtually
impossible."

"It means taking about 40 seconds of advertising between every over
and close to a minute at the fall of every wicket. It's OK in theory
but it hardly ever works like that. If a team only loses two or three
wickets, or the match finishes in 15 overs, we are in trouble," the
same production official said.

In March, the IPL signed a fresh US $1.8 billion broadcast-rights deal
for 10 years with Multi Screen Media (MSM), which operates under the
Sony umbrella, and World Sports Group (WSG). The matches are being
telecast by Supersport, the South African broadcaster which holds the
tournament rights in that country.

Neil Manthorp is a South African broadcaster and journalist, and head
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Latest ICC ODI Rankings | India No 2

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1. South Africa - 127

2. India - 122

3. Australia - 121

4. New Zealand  112

5. Pakistan - 111

6. England- 108

7. Sri Lanka  105

8. West Indies  - 92

9. Bangladesh - 46

10. Zimbabwe - 23

11. Ireland - 19

12. Kenya - 00

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Full name Kamran Khan
Born March 10, 1991, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Current age 18 years 34 days
Major teams Rajasthan Royals
Playing role Bowler
Bowling style Left-arm fast-medium


Left-arm seamer Kamran Khan was picked out of obscurity when the Rajasthan Royals signed him up for the second season of the IPL after Darren Berry, the team's director of coaching, spotted him in a Twenty20 tournament in Mumbai. Kamran, the son of a woodcutter from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, had no first-class experience when he was handed a US$24,000 contract by Rajasthan. He was mainly a tennis-ball player but shot into prominence in Rajasthan's warm-up game in April 2009 when he bowled Cape Cobras' Justin Ontong with an off-stump yorker. Shane Warne, the team's captain, said Kamran can bowl over 140kph even though he has a slight frame. He has marked him out as a player to watch in the tournament to be played in South Africa.
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sara mcglashan, sara mcglashan pictures

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Christchurch: With his abdomen injury not looking as serious as initially feared, Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is expected to play the fourth one-dayer against New Zealand in Hamilton on Wednesday.

 Tendulkar, who retired hurt after belting a stunning 163 in the third ODI, underwent an MRI scan at a local hospital here.

Although the team management did not divulge the scan result, it is learnt that the extent of damage in his abdomen was not as bad it had been expected to be.

The Mumbaikar, who has scored a record 43 one-day hundreds, is said to be a lot more comfortable than he had been on Sundaynight.

The 36-year-old has been among the runs in all the three ODIs played so far, bettering his 20 at Napier with a 61 in the rained out match at Wellington.

The team management has 24 hours more to take a call on his fitness. Interestingly, while Tendulkar and team doctor Nitin Patel were at the hospital, the rest of the team had a day out in the hills adjoining Christchurch.

They went for a mountain drive, rollicking up an down the bumpy slopes in six-wheeled vehicles. Later, they had a swell time, speed jetting at the Waima waters.

Having earned a good outing for outstanding shows on the field, the team moves to Hamilton tomorrow for the battle of Seddon Park.

via : DNA
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