Watch IPL 20 20 match online
Posted On Sunday, May 17, 2009 at at 2:36 PM by kjsWatch Ipl 20 20 Match live server
kjs
What is the Indian Premier League?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a franchise-based Twenty20 competition organised by the BCCI, and backed by the ICC. It features the world's best cricketers playing - their affiliation decided by open auction - for eight city-based franchises, owned by a host of businessmen and celebrity consortiums. The first season was from April-June 2008; the second season will be held between April 18 and May 24 2009 in South Africa, after organisers decided to move the tournament out of India for the year, as it clashed with parliamentary elections in the country.
Why has the IPL generated such a buzz?
Two main reasons why. One the football-club concept of the IPL, which is unlike anything cricket has known. The best players from across the world playing not according to nationality but according to market forces. Second, the sheer financial scale of the IPL is unprecedented at this level of cricket. The BCCI made close to US$ 1.75 billion solely from the sale of TV rights ($908 million), promotion ($108 million) and franchises (approximately $700 million). There are now ten players on contracts worth more than $1 million annually. It's an entire cricket economy - and one unaffected by recession - out there. The total prize money for the first edition of the tournament was around US$3 million.
Who are the top cricketers involved?
Almost everyone who's anyone in world cricket. The first season had Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Shoaib Akhtar, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar and Matthew Hayden participating. England went largely unrepresented but their two biggest stars, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, will play in the second season after they were each bought for US$1.55 million by Bangalore Royal Challengers and Chennai Super Kings respectively. Pakistan's players will not be involved in Season 2, nor will Michael Clarke or Ricky Ponting, who have opted to focus on regular cricket.