Cash-rich IPL marches into season 10
NEW DELHI: The 10th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starts Wednesday, marking a decade of scandal and success for the flashy Twenty20 competition beloved by India and watched across the globe.
The latest edition of the glitzy league — famous for its pyrotechnics, cheerleaders and huge signing bonuses — gets under way with defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Since its debut in 2008 the shorter-format league has evolved into India’s most popular sporting event, filling stadiums and attracting TV audiences well beyond that enjoyed by Test and one-day competitions in the cricket-mad subcontinent.
“Its unique selling proposition is that most of the stadiums are packed, and it is being watched around the world,” IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla said.
Its appeal has outlasted numerous controversies — most notably corruption and match-fixing charges — that at times have raised more eyebrows than the showy theatrics on the pitch.
Three of the eight teams from the inaugural edition, and two others since, have been taken over by new owners, suspended or simply vanished altogether.
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were barred for two seasons in 2015 over a spotfixing saga, while Hyderabad’s original franchise Deccan Chargers were terminated for breaching contract terms.
The league’s founder Lalit Modi, meanwhile, is in selfimposed exile in Britain, refusing to return to India to face corruption charges.
Shukla acknowledged the league’s muddy past but said all possible checks and balances were in place to ensure the 10th edition was a success.
“There may have been some aberrations but the strongest possible action was taken. We have ensured that corruption does not creep in,” he said.
“I am quite optimistic that this edition will be another grand success and be very significant for us.”
BUFFALO, New York: Whatever aspirations Buffalo Sabres second-year center Jack Eichel had of representing the US at the Winter Olympics have been put on indefinite hold. Same goes for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rookie-of-the-year candidate Auston Matthews.
The NHL closed the door on USA Hockey’s next generation of stars — and the league’s players from every other nation, for that matter — from playing on the international stage by abruptly announcing it would not compete at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea.
The stunning reality of the decision announced on Monday began hitting home for Eichel following Buffalo’s 4-2 loss to Toronto.
“It’s a little bit disappointing as a player who takes a lot of pride in representing his country and who’s done it before,” Eichel said. “As a young kid just breaking into the league it’s something I definitely watched growing up and looked forward to.”
The news hurt even more for Eichel when recalling how he and Matthews showed glimpses of their potential a mere six months earlier playing together on Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.
“As a league, we’re trying to grow our game all over the world. I think the Olympics is a good way to do it,” the 20-year-old Eichel said. “To be able to play the game on other continents, other places and allow them to see how exciting and what type of game we play, it’s a good opportunity.”
Matthews expressed disappointment while also acknowledging he is more preoccupied with helping Toronto clinch its second playoff berth in 12 seasons.
“Yeah, of course, you’d want to go and represent your country,” said the 19-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona. “I’ve been fortunate to do it in the past at different tournaments. But, it’s not readily on my mind right now.”
Youngsters and veterans, from Alex Ovechkin and Jonathan Toews to Connor McDavid and Henrik Lundqvist, the world’s best players called playing in the Olympics important. The league decided otherwise.
Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly informed the NHL Players’ Association that the matter was “officially closed.”
The NHLPA said in a statement that players are “extraordinarily disappointed and adamantly disagree with the NHL’s shortsighted decision.”
The NHL had allowed its players to participate in the past five Olympics dating to 1998.
The league said no meaningful dialogue had emerged in talks with the NHLPA, International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).