Punjabi dish can be spicy and hot this time
dubai — There will be a lot of excitement as the first leg of Indian Premier League 2014 begins in the UAE on April 16 at the iconic Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Eight teams are in the fray for the six-match per venue schedule in the first phase of the league which ends on April 30.
And from there, the show and the entourage will touch base in India, which by then will be free from the frenzy and mainstream activities of the 2014 Lok Sabha parliamentary elections.
Also in focus for the UAE starters will be the other two venues which include the magnificently set up Dubai International Cricket Stadium with its ‘Ring of Fire’ themed floodlights, the first of its kind in the game worldwide.
And, finally we have the ‘ancient cricket city’ of the Middle East, the record breaking Sharjah Cricket Stadium, located in the industrial belt of the emirate close to the Dubai border.
In the opening game on April 16, defending champions Mumbai Indians take on the Kolkata Knight Riders – first ball 6.30 UAE time.
The Khaleej Times did not have much luck while trying to get a side net talk with the members of the Kings XI Punjab whose newly appointed debutant skipper George Bailey is set on marshalling a very Aussie tinted squad that will also see exciting new Indian prospects.
The team with dashing allrounders and in-form Down Under firebrands from the latest chapter of the Ashes and ODIs against England, are an exciting lot for those wanting to root for the ‘Greys’ at the stadia.
With a semis finish as their best till today — the 2008 chapter of the IPl — the side has a lot to prove. Local draw Sanjay Bangar, a former Indian all-rounder, is at the helm as coach.
After an unsuccessful chase of the fiery Kevin Pietersen as their trump card, the prize catches of Ashes hero left arm fast hero Mitchell Johnson, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, Bailey and the irresistible Virender Sehwag, go to show tha they still have enough bite and purpose for an high octane finish.
The sponsored thick drooping moustache of Johnson are as menacing as the left arm speedster’s lethal form which today is considered as dangerous as that of the South African great Dale Steyn.
Recently Johnson told the media: “I’m really excited playing on those wickets in India again and try and be intimidating as I have been in the last six months or so.”
On their days, each of these men are match winners and along with another Gold and Green in Shaun Marsh, the eager to prove Cheteshwar Pujara, the young Indian all-rounder Rishi Dhawan, the experience rich medium-pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji and left-arm spinner Kartik Murali, the Punjabi menu can be very spicy and hot to handle for a change.
Then comes the bonus or again class as we can call it when medium paced men Beuran Hendricks of South Africa and Sri Lankan spearhead Thisara Perera give the attack the much needed incisiveness especially during the late overs.
Sehwag’s has had a superb run in the recent North Zone fixtures and the T20 events, and he will be going all out to stamp his class again and so will Pujara, the Test special- ist who wants a part of the cake too when it comes to the limited overs versions of the sport.
From the days of the captainship under Adam Gilchrist, Yuvraj Singh and Kumar Sangakkara the side has always come close to pulling off stunning wins.
Perhaps the friendly Aussie leader Bailey can shake them out of the shackles that the side is normally accustomed to.
Kings XI announced the appointment of Fraser Castellino as its new chief operating officer (COO). Fraser has over a decade’s experience of working in the sports industry. Besides leadership roles in the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, he has also been instrumental in setting up the Sahara Group’s polo and other non-cricketing ventures, according media reports in India.
Kings XI Punjab is one of the eight IPL teams, are held and promoted by a consortium which includes Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta and Karan Paul, reports added.
The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium-based squad play their first IPL 2014 match on April 18 against the Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi.