IPL Cricket

Indian Premier League (IPL) is a 20-20 cricket tournament which is being played between eight Indian city franchises. The IPL cricket matches were first started on April 18 at Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. The concept of the Indian Premier League is a newfound dynamism in the cricketing world. Many companies are betting on twenty20 cricket to attract a whole new generation as well as the exorbitant money that is associated with it.

It is one of the most ambitious and brilliant ventures that has taken off in the history of Indian cricket, changing the course of the game.

These matches are live. The Teams are attempting their best to emerge the winner and the players are competent and are ensuring team spirit that is positive and co-operative.

Chennai Super Kings started brilliantly but ended up on a bad note. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the captain of the team and they are putting up their best to showcase a good match.

Rajasthan Royals has been performing well as they won five matches at a go. Shane Warne is the captain and is leading his pack really well.

Delhi Daredevils are looking strong and their team of Asif, McGrath, Sehwag and Gambhir is consistently performing.

Kings XI Punjab is doing well with Yuvraj Singh as the captain. The team has all its hopes pinned on such players as Sangakkara, Hopes and Sarwan. Irfan Pathan is doing well behind the stumps.

Kolkata Knight Riders are working their way to the top. After their dismal performances, they are trying their best to put up good performances. Saurav Ganguly is leading the team and one is anxious to look forward to their winning performances.

The Mumbai Indians have bounced back and are going in for some great performances after a slump.

The Deccan Chargers are yet to revive their glory after a series of dismal performances. So one needs to wait and watch if they bring much acclaim to IPL.

Yuvraj Singh of Punjab XI Kings has scored six sixes in an over. This has made him the only player in international cricket to make the fastest fifty in Twenty20.

Sohail Tanvir has taken six wickets against Chennai Super Kings. The Rajasthan Royals, thereby bringing them to the forefront of the IPL T20 matches.

These cricket matches have caused a lot of excitement as enthusiasts await the result of the teams but still is it a money making business or people are really liking this concept?

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Champions League Final

The Champions League tournament started for the first time in the year 1955. French sports journalist and editor, Gabriel Hanot suggested this continental competition for winners of the European national football leagues.

The competition used a two-leg knockout format. The teams played two matches, one at home, and one on the ground of the opponent. The team with the highest overall score qualified for the next round of the competition. Entry was restricted to the teams that won their national league championships. This qualification system continued until 1992.

In the 1992-93 seasons, the tournament became popular with the name UEFA Champions League. In the year 1997-98, the eligibility changed to include not just domestic champions but also the runners-up. The selection criteria for the winners of the European Cup are, however, not standard.

Champions League Final:

The European Cup or the UEFA Champions League Final is set to take place at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow on 21st of May 2008.

It is a seasonal club football competition. UEFA has been organizing this competition since 1955. The European Cup includes the most successful football clubs in Europe. The prize and the European Cup, is the most prestigious club trophy in the world of football.

The championship is varies from the less prestigious UEFA Cup and the defunct Winners' Cup. The tournament consists of several stages.

In the present format, it begins in mid July with three preliminary knockout-qualifying rounds. The 16 surviving teams join 16 specified teams in a group stage. Eight winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout rounds, and the tournament ends with the final match in May.

The current holder of the European Cup is AC Milan. They have beaten Liverpool FC by 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece on 23 May 2007.

How to Get Such Football League News:

Admirers of the European Cup may now easily get the league football news, scores, and events of their favorite sport through online web sites, as the Internet offers them with plenty of updated football news. It is 100% possible to get updated football news within a single mouse click. Hence, search now and know the current and happening affairs in the world of football leagues.

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A Shadow Over the Game of Cricket?

The Lahore 03/03 terror attack had perhaps changed the game of cricket forever. If not in the quality of the game definitely in terms of 'glorious uncertainties' being replaced by 'ominous uncertainties' and in terms of unprecedented security arrangements.

An international cricket team, Sri Lanka, had been specifically targeted for a brutal terror attack for reasons best known to the all encompassing terror in Pakistan. An attack frighteningly similar to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. An attack that had become an immense tragedy for the equally cricket loving people of Pakistan which has been producing cricketers of exceptional talent over the years.

What had been a nightmarish thought for this high profile big money sport has now become a reality. Apart from all cricketing nations tightening security arrangements for all ensuing engagements the immediate impact has fallen squarely on the second version of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which was to unfold during April- May 2009.

The IPL dilemma is not entirely for the terror attack. The biggest democracy of the world that is India is also going for the biggest democratic exercise that is the parliamentary general elections during April-May 2009 which ironically also needs the biggest imaginable security arrangements. With terror diversifying into cricket the dilemma is all the more palpable for both the Indian government and the IPL organizers, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The debate is raging. How to provide security for the most glamorous tournament having venues spread all over India involving highly priced international cricketers from all cricket playing nations of the world. The Indian government expressed its inability to provide security forces in view of the elections while BCCI vociferously said that it did not require hard core security forces as India was not Pakistan. And the media professionals have been saying that IPL matches are 'juicy' targets for terrorists and that elections are the first priority for security. So how to ensure foolproof security for the tournament?

The IPL thus had to be rescheduled. The BCCI had to announce ten times more spends on security. But the pernicious question remains as to would this ensure foolproof security. Maybe due to this except Tamil Nadu all the states of the Indian Union having venues have again refused to make security arrangements citing elections. All the participating international cricketers are naturally having second thoughts on coming to play in India. IPL-2 remained in jeopardy.

India is definitely not Pakistan, but what has been happening in Pakistan is particularly dangerous for India and of course, the US.

It is vital to save cricket from terror. To ensure this we will also have to tackle terror more effectively and permanently and on a global basis. The global population must be freed from terror so that they enjoy the 'glorious uncertainties' of cricket.

Cricket or no cricket the global citizens need a savior. Most urgently.

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The Indian Premier League - Underbelly of Sleaze Money

The Indian cricket league has fired the imagination of people all over the world. For once cricket which was poor sport in relation to golf and football has become at par with them. This is no doubt because of the Indian cricket league; cricket has become the power house of the game as far as finance is concerned.

But all is not rosy and underneath the underbelly black money and flaunting of foreign exchange regulations is perhaps more the rule than the exception. Some time back Mahesh Bhat that intelligent Mumbai producer had produced 'Jannat' a movie with cricket and its nexus with betting and match fixing as its background. The movie brought out the connection between black money and cricket.

'Jannat' was only a story, but the sad part is that it is turning out to be real. The toll has been heavy to start with. Shashi Tharoor the Junior Minister in the Indian cabinet had to resign last month. Whether he had any significant role to play or was only a front man may not be established. But the result of Tharoor's resignation has wide ramifications. Available evidence certainly suggests that all is not well with the financial dealings of the premier League.

The matters that need to be probed are no longer limited to the last auction where the Kochi team were the winners, but needs to cover the entire league which is under a cloud of suspicion. A clean up of the cricket establishment led by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and its child the IPL has become essential. The BCCI has acted and suspended Lalit Modi as the CEO of the ICL. But this may not be enough to find out the route of black money from the Gulf into this game.

Cricket in India is more of a religion and has a tremendous following. Thus when the idea of the IPL was mooted it was thought that it would give a much needed boost to cricket at the grass roots level. More money was expected to flow in and the lgame of cricket was expected to benefit with better pay packets for cricketeers at the grass roots level. But the organizers were perhaps too naive or careless and allowed slush funds and sleaze money to flow in as a natural corollary.

The Income Tax sleuths and the Intelligence Bureau are on the track. But seeing their past record not much can be expected,as the names involved are so big that the entire political equation will go for a somersault.

However the IB has confirmed that money has come in from the gulf. This is a disturbing thought and one is perturbed that a gentleman's game is reduced to such dire straits. It is a pity that an intelligent man like Shashi Tharoor also became part of this syndicate. But there are many more in the wings whose identity is hidden. The game needs to be nurtured carefully, otherwise the gains of the last 2 years may just be a mirage. The fear that gangsters holed up in the Middle East with their betting rackets may capture the league can not be dismissed out of hand.

Cricket is a gentleman's game and the world over is associated with fair play and good conduct. It will be a disaster if this noble game is allowed to degenerate into a haven for sleaze money and betting syndicates. The present lot of people at the helm has some hard decisions to make. Some steps have been taken like the suspension of Lalit Modi, but a lot more needs to be done. Will they have the courage for it? It will not be easy and the concerned persons may just be hoping that the dust settles down. If this happens there is a real chance that everything will go under the carpet. That will be sad indeed.

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Indian Premier League Teams - Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is an IPL franchise team based in Bangalore, India. Dr. Vijay Mallya, an Indian businessman and billionaire, is the owner of the franchise, which was established in 2008 as an original IPL team. The logo of the Royals is a simple shield with the gold letters RC on a red background in the centre, surrounded by a gold circle. Bangalore's watchword is "strategy". Given their runner-up finish in IPL2, it is likely that their long-term strategy for building a solid T20 team is bearing fruit.

As found on their logo, the Challengers use a red kit with golden yellow trimmings and strips. For the third edition of the IPL, RCB will use the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has a capacity to seat approximately 50,000 persons. Established in 1969, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is operated by the Karnataka Cricket Association.

== Brief IPL history ==

RCB had a real challenge in their first IPL season, as an abysmal run of form saw them finish next to last in the group stage. Although they had players of the calibre of Anil Kumble and Jacques Kallis in their squad, the Challengers only managed to win 4 matches out of 14 in 2008. In 2009, change was on the horizon as former South Africa coach, Ray Jennings, took over the mantle from Venkatesh Prasad. RCB showed a marked improvement in IPL 2, although that had little to do with the efforts of the most expensive player in the league, Kevin Pietersen. Under the captaincy of Indian stalwart, Anil Kumble, Bangalore went straight to the finals to challenge Deccan Charges-only to lose a tight match by a mere six runs.

== Star attractions of the Royal Challengers Bangalore for 2010 ==

Anil Kumble (captain), Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen (ENG), Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli, Jacques Kallis (SA), Ross Taylor (NZ), R van de Merwe (SA), Mark Boucher (SA), Eoin Morgan (ENG) and Cameron White (AUS)

== Coaching staff==

Head Coach: Ray Jennings (SA)

Assistant Coach: Vijay Bharadwaj

== 2010 Kings XI Punjab Squad ==

=> Batsmen

Virat Kohli, Robin Uthappa, Rahul Dravid, Ross Taylor, Kevin Pietersen, Manish Pandey and Eoin Morgan

=> All Rounders

Dillon du Preez, Jacques Kallis, Roelof van der Merwe, Cameron White, Praveen Kumar, Balachandra Akhil, Sridharan Sriram, Steven Smith

=> Wicket Keeper

Mark Boucher and Shreevats Goswami

=> Bowlers

Anil Kumble (Captain), Dale Steyn, Vinay Kumar, Ahimanyu Mithun, Bhuvanesh Kumar

== Outlook ==

The strength of the Royal Challengers team lies in its batting. The bowling attack is good but it lacks the depth and quality that could endure 14 IPL games in two months. Injuries to players like Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis would leave the bowling considerably weaker. Notwithstanding that, the RCB franchise is a serious challenger for a semi-final spot and possibly another Champions League place. They would surely love to get the opportunity to compensate for their abysmal run in the Airtel Champions League after their promising runner-up finish in IPL2.

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The Italian Football League

The Italian Soccer league is a series of matches played between various football clubs in Italy. They are all interconnected league matches among the various football clubs in Italy. The club that is at the top is Lega Calcio or the Lega Nazionale Professionisti. This club is divided into sections Serie A and Serie B

The Second club in the ranking is Lega Pro; it rules first division and second division. The former has two parallel divisions and the latter has three parallel divisions.

The next in the ranking is called Serie D, this is a league which is formed by nine parallel divisions and the clubs are divided according to their geographical location.

The first Italian League came into being because of English emigrants in the year 1891. When the leagues began they were separate for Italians and for foreigners. Gradually they merged.

The final move to give a single league structure to Italian League began in the year 1929.

Since World War II the teams that have dominated Italian Soccer are Juventus, A.C Milan, and Internazionale.

The league system began in the year 1978, when the semi-professionals ceased to exist.

In the same year the Lega Pro became a totally professional league and Italy was the first nation to have two distinct professional leagues.

To understand what is the Italian Football league, one has to know what the league system is, it is a hierarchy of leagues which means a team can be raised to a position or pushed behind depending on what position they finish at and the playoffs. The structure is referred to as the pyramid because most of the regional divisions are at the bottom rung.

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Visiting a Diverse City Like Glasgow

Those travelling through Scotland should not miss out on the culture and excitement offered by the country's largest city.

Glasgow has plenty to offer visitors, no matter what they're looking for. One of the main draws to the city is the emphasis placed on modern and historical architecture. The city has a legacy of Victorian and Edwardian buildings, but has also seen development since then lead to new and innovative buildings.

Fans of architecture should be sure to check out the Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow Cathedral, the University of Glasgow and the House for an Art Lover in order to catch a glimpse of some of Glasgow's finest buildings. In addition, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is often boasted as a favourite of locals, as it features towers, turrets and spires. The Gallery is also popular for holding one of the UK's finest art collections.

Another draw to the city is its vibrant night life and music scene. With famous venues including King Tut's Wah Wah Hut and The Barrowland Ballroom, there are plenty of places to see different music. If you're in for something more traditional, each year the city hosts the Glasgow International Jazz Festival, as well as the cross-ocean spanning Celtic Connections.

For sports fans, Glasgow is known for its strong football culture. With two rival Scottish Premier League teams in the city - Rangers and Celtics - spirits are always high on match days.

But if it's a quieter atmosphere you're after, there are plenty of parks and green spaces in Glasgow. Glasgow Green is a popular and famous parkland which has been turned into a modern public park over time. The space is often home to outdoor festivals and concerts.

The city even boasts a number of galleries and museums that draw in crowds of travellers looking for a glimpse of culture. The Burrell Collection at Pollock County Park draws in visitors with a huge amount of paintings and artwork from Scotland and abroad.

Due to its size and relative importance in the north of the UK, you will notice that once you arrive from your flights to Glasgow that the city has a huge commuter transport network that will take travellers virtually anywhere they'd like to go. There's also a vast array of shopping opportunities to take advantage of!

Glasgow is also conveniently located along the River Clyde, meaning there are opportunities for plenty of strolls along the waterway. But no matter what you're interested in, there's so much to see in and outside the city that makes it a perfect getaway.

The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.

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