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The BCCI has sold the title sponsorship of the IPL for the next five years to PepsiCo for Rs. 396.8 crore

Nagraj Gollapudi21-Nov-2012Global beverage giant PepsiCo has bagged the IPL title sponsorship rights for the next five years (2013-17) for Rs 396.8 crore ($71.77 million approx), almost double the original title sponsorship deal done in 2008. Along with PepsiCo, the only other contender for the title sponsorships rights was Airtel, an Indian telecommunications company, who bid Rs 316 crore ($57.27 million approx). For the next five years the tournament is to be called Pepsi-IPL.In 2008, DLF, Indian’s biggest real estate company, had paid a sum of Rs 200 crore ($36.25 million approx), to own title rights for the first five years (2008-12) of the tournament. But in August DLF decided not to renew its contract, forcing the BCCI to issue a new tender. The BCCI had set Rs 300 crore as the base price for the title sponsorship.”So far our record of selling various properties of IPL has been very good,” IPL governing council chairman Rajiv Shukla said after a meeting of BCCI’s marketing committee in Mumbai. “We have doubled, tripled or quadrupled the amount while selling some of the properties,” Shukla said. Gautham Mukkavilli, CEO, Beverages, PepsiCo India region, said that in a country where “cricket was a religion,” the IPL had become the “most revered temple where the faithful flock to.”The news of the new title sponsorship was approved of by the IPL franchises, who believe the Pepsi deal will have a positive effect on their own businesses. Raghu Iyer, the chief financial officer at Rajasthan Royals, said the new title sponsorship will, “ignite the market” for the franchises. “It is absolutely double the value. What was expected was one-half-times what DLF paid, but these guys have paid something like 80-crore mark (per year)… IPL needed this kind of positive reinstatement from a global brand like Pepsi.”Venky Mysore, the CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders, said the title sponsorship would add “tremendous value” to both the league as well as the global beverage brand. “It is terrific news that they have come on board. Pepsi would have done their homework. They know their numbers and they would have clearly seen some value,” Mysore said.According to Mysore the value addition and the returns on Pepsi’s investment would be manifold. “There are analytical models that we also use to show our brands who are associated with our franchise in terms on what their return on investment is. Leave aside the fact that it is an association with a marquee product (IPL) and the synergies that brings, if you look at just pure advertisement value and the kind of the exposure that happens leading upto the IPL, during the IPL and then the rub-off effect of it continuing on, there is a very clear way of calculating what the value of that exposure is. That is how you calculate the return on investment. Pepsi would get at least five times the exposure it would normally get,” Mysore said.After DLF let the deadline of July 28 (meant for the renewal of the title sponsorship contract) pass, speculation grew about whether the value of the IPL as a brand was shrinking. The timing of that news coincided with the controversy surrounding the Deccan Chargers franchise. According to TAM Sports, a division of TAM Research, one of the leading television ratings agencies, the overall tournament rating for the fifth IPL was 3.45, compared to 3.51 the previous year – far from the TVR of 5.51 reached in 2010. The telecommunications pair of Airtel and Nokia had decided to not renew their annual title sponsorship of the Champions League Twenty20, adding weight to the growing perception that the IPL was no longer a valuable property.The new title sponsorship with Pepsi silenced those doubts. According to a senior official from a different franchise, who did not want to be identified, despite all the negative colours IPL had been painted in, the league has always achieved what it wanted. “People have spoken negative about IPL but in the end everybody has paid the money which we have always asked for. We have never had problems at getting sponsors at our price. I will get it even in future. People will still talk so it is best we keep quiet,” the official said. “Pepsi will not put in money unless they are sure about their numbers, isn’t it? They are putting hardcore cash. Pepsi operates not only in India. It is a global giant and they would have done their studies,” the official pointed out.

Jason Gillespie, the former Australian fast bowler, is heading to Zimbabwe to take up a position as head coach of the Kwekwe-based MidWest Rhinos franchise

Cricinfo staff22-Jul-2010Jason Gillespie, the former Australian fast bowler, is heading to Zimbabwe to take up a position as head coach of the Kwekwe-based MidWest Rhinos franchise. Gillespie’s tenure will begin before the start of the domestic season in September, and he replaces Andy Waller – who has moved to Harare to take charge of the national age-group sides – in the role.”We are really excited to have Jason taking charge of the team,” said MidWest Rhinos chief executive Kenyon Ziehl. “It is a tremendous development in the franchise. He played for Australia at the highest levels with the greatest respect and was one of the best bowlers ever to open for Australia.”Gillespie played 71 Tests and 97 one-day internationals for Australia, forming one half of the country’s most statistically successful bowling partnerships with Glenn McGrath before retiring at the end of the 2007-08 season. He will be taking over a domestic side that has been firmly ensconced in the middle of the domestic tables, though they managed to reach the finals of the four-day Logan Cup and the Metbank Faithwear one-day competition.”We will rely on his experience and expertise to add more value to the whole franchise, especially our bowlers,” added Ziehl. “He will definitely help us finish the next season with some silverware. Gillespie will help us develop the whole squad so that we produce top class players and our franchise B squad will be a key area for development of the standard of professionalism we expect to reach.”He [Gillespie] is also keyed up to be in Zimbabwe. He told me that Zimbabwe is on the up and up, and it will be great to have some of the players he will be working with in the next Zimbabwe Test squad.”

Wolves have received a boost in their bid to sign Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig this month, with journalist Pete O’Rourke talking up a potential move.

The Lowdown: Puig linked with Wolves move

Things are still relatively quiet at Molineux ahead of next Monday’s deadline day, barring the ongoing saga of Adama Traore’s likely move to Tottenham.

One player who has been linked with a move to Wolves is Puig, who has struggled to make an impact at Barca this season under both Ronald Koeman and Xavi.

The one-time La Liga champion has only started once in La Liga in 2021/22 to date and it looks as though he is not in the manger’s plans, potentially opening the door for a move.

The Latest: Wanderers given further boost

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke claimed Francisco Trincao’s move to Wolves means they have good relations with Barca, possibly improving their chances of signing Puig:

“Wolves already have Trincao from Barcelona, so there’s obviously open dialogue there between the clubs and good relations.

“That would boost Wolves’ chances of getting him.”

The Verdict: Potentially exciting signing

Puig may not be a regular at Barca but he is still an excellent footballer with many years ahead of him, so Wolves would be wise to snap him up this month. He has been compared to Spain legend Andres Iniesta, which speaks volumes about his ability and composure on the ball.

The young Spaniard has proven that comparison to be fair too with an incredible 93.9% pass completion rate in La Liga this season, albeit across just 294 minutes, showing that he could excel in a similar manner to Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves. The Wolves duo actually both complete passes at a lower success rate.

Bruno Lage could perhaps then mould Puig into a long-term replacement for Moutinho, ensuring the club continues to grow into the future, acting as a statement signing from a huge club at the same time.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has given a key Wolves transfer update. Read more here.

Western Australia’s Lilac Hill fixture has become a victim of the crowded international and domestic schedules

Cricinfo staff02-Jul-2010Western Australia’s Lilac Hill fixture has become a victim of the crowded international and domestic schedules and will no longer appear on the summer calendar. Graeme Wood, the Western Australia chief executive, had hoped the festival game would be included as part of England’s Ashes tour but the plan has been abandoned.”When we decided 12 months ago to postpone the event for 2009, we stated just how much the cricket landscape has changed in two decades and the greater demands on international and interstate scheduling,” Wood said. “The constraints continue to provide us withgreat challenges and it has unfortunately resulted in this wonderful event coming to an end.”The fixture was known for its guest players and in 1999 Dennis Lillee came out of retirement to bowl with his son Adam as the Chairman’s XI beat Pakistan. Richard Hadlee,Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Michael Holding, Allan Border, Jeff Thomson and Greg Chappell also played for the local side, which won seven of the 18 matches.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has urged Celtic to offer a new deal to keep first-team coach Gavin Strachan at Parkhead. 

The lowdown: Strachan a favourite of Celtic’s board

The 43-year-old survived a coaching staff overhaul and has since continued to impress in the role of first-team coach following the departure of Neil Lennon in February 2021 and the subsequent arrival of Ange Postecoglou.

A recent report from Football Insider claimed that the Parkhead hierarchy were keen to secure Strachan’s long-term future at the club and have duly opened contract talks with him, given his status as as a highly-regarded figure in Glasgow.

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As the Bhoys set their sights on a 52nd Premiership crown to add to their Scottish League Cup success from earlier in the campaign, there could also be positive off-field developments in the near future…

The latest: O’Rourke endorses Strachan extension

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has implored Celtic to persuade Strachan to stay on.

The reporter outlined: “I think it would be a positive move for Celtic. It would just keep that continuity within the coaching group right now.

“If they can agree a new contract, it will just keep things ticking over nicely for everybody involved there.”

The verdict: He’s right

As the summer fast approaches and the managerial merry-go-round begins to fire up, the Hoops should be acting fast to appease the former Doncaster Rovers man after he turned down the opportunity to manage English League Two outfit Hartlepool United back in November.

Postecoglou is clearly onto something with the current setup at Lennoxtown, and retaining the status quo within the coaching ranks is equally as important as keeping hold of key players.

Having endured a torrid 2020/21 campaign, Celtic have been crying out for stability, and as such the club should be doing everything to keep the likes of Strachan, assistant manager John Kennedy and coach Stephen McManus in place at Parkhead.

In other news, an expert has made a key claim regarding the ownership of Celtic. Read more here.

Australia fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus begins his comeback from injury with the Australia A team that will take on Sri Lanka A in the first four-day game at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, from tomorrow

Cricinfo staff17-Jun-2010Australia fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus begins his comeback from injury with the Australia A team that will take on Sri Lanka A in the first four-day game at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, from tomorrow. Hilfenhaus hasn’t played since the first Test of the home summer, when he was the Man of the Match against West Indies at the Gabba. Tendonitis in his left knee created so much pain the day after a long bowling spell that he could barely walk.James Pattinson, younger brother of England test player Darren Pattinson, has been named twelfth man. If Pattinson progresses as the Australian selectors hope, he and his brother will join the Trotts of Australia and England and the Hearnes of England and South Africa, as the only brothers to play Test cricket for different countries.The team is led by George Bailey, who believes the latest crop of Australian cricketers is full of promise. “The juniors and the younger players that are coming through are going to be outstanding. I think this batch of fast bowlers that are coming through now – James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc – those sorts of bowlers, are really exciting, have good pace and can swing the ball.”The two sides are set to play two four-days games, three ODIs and one Twenty20 match.Squad: George Bailey (Capt), Andrew McDonald, Ed Cowan, Peter Forrest, Peter George, Ben Hilfenhaus, Usman Khawaja, Michael Klinger, Stephen O’Keefe, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc.

Leeds United have been fit with a £20,000 fine for failing to control their players against Chelsea, with journalist Phil Hay relaying the news.

The Lowdown: Leeds’ late heartbreak at Chelsea

The Whites suffered an agonising 3-2 defeat away to the Blues earlier this month, losing in stoppage time after a Jorginho penalty. It was a hugely spirited performance from Marcelo Bielsa’s side, but as has been the case too often this season, they came away with nothing.

Tempers flared with Leeds players after the award of the late spot-kick, with numerous individuals surrounding referee Chris Kavanagh.

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The Latest: Leeds hit with £20k fine

The behaviour of the Whites players has seen them receive a hefty five-figure punishment, with The Athletic’s Hay confirming the news on Twitter on Monday as he simply relayed: “Leeds hit with £20,000 fine.”

In the report, it is stated that the Whites have been punished for ‘failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion when they surrounded the match referee.’

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The Verdict: Another blow

Not much appears to be going right for Leeds at the moment, with Bielsa’s men sliding ominously down the Premier League table after some heavy defeats and suffering a host of injuries to key players.

This fine is a further blow for the club at a time when money is needed for signings in the January transfer window, although the amount paid shouldn’t affect their budget too much.

In truth, it was nice to see the passion shown by Leeds players on that painful afternoon at Chelsea, showing that they truly care about results and the fate of the club.

In other news, Leeds have received a potential transfer boost. Read more here.

Mark Sorell has become the second state coach in a week to step down after being told his contract with South Australia would not be extended at the end of the season

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2010Mark Sorell has become the second state coach in a week to step down after being told his contract with South Australia would not be extended at the end of the season. The move comes as Darren Lehmann, the former Redbacks captain, has agreed to link with Queensland for the Big Bash after Trevor Barsby’s sudden exit last Wednesday.The flurry of in-season movement is extremely unusual in Australia and while Barsby was the victim of player power, Sorell’s time ran out to lift the perennially underperforming South Australia. The SACA board decided on Monday night that Sorell’s fourth season in charge would be his last.Jamie Cox, South Australia’s director of cricket, told Sorell, 45, the news on Tuesday morning. “He has consequently stepped down as coach of the Redbacks, effective immediately,” Cox said. Jeff Vaughan, the assistant, will take over for South Australia’s one-day and Sheffield Shield games against Victoria this week.”I would like to make it very clear that this outcome was initiated by management and the board and not by the playing group,” Cox said. “The players have, however, been consulted and understand the reasons for the decision.”In Queensland, Lehmann will start coaching the Twenty20 side next week to prepare for its opening match against Victoria on January 2. Lehmann, who looks after the Deccan Chargers in the IPL, steps in at a difficult time for the Bulls after Barsby’s departure.Graham Dixon, Queensland’s chief executive, said Lehmann would provide the side with an experienced Twenty20 hand. “Darren’s earned a reputation as an innovative coach in the IPL and with his extensive international playing and coaching experience, we are confident he will further assist the development of our promising young squad,” Dixon said. Justin Sternes will look after the Bulls in the Shield and one-day competitions for the rest of the season.

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been ruled out of the five-ODI series against England starting later this month due to an elbow injury that prevents him from picking up a bat

Cricinfo staff05-Jun-2010Australia’s wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been ruled out of the five-ODI series against England starting later this month due to an elbow injury that prevents him from picking up a bat. Tim Paine, the Tasmania gloveman, will take Haddin’s place in the one-dayers and will be in line for a Test debut if Haddin fails to recover in time for the two Tests against Pakistan in July.Haddin said the problem flared up three months ago when he smashed a century against New Zealand in a one-dayer, but didn’t have enough time off the game to give his elbow sufficient rest.”It’s like having tennis elbow,” Haddin told the . ”It has gradually deteriorated to the point where I can’t hold a bat. The frustrating thing about it is I can still wicketkeep – everything else is fine – but I can’t pick up a cricket bat and to play cricket you have to be able to bat.”I had to wait a bit after the [Twenty20] World Cup to allow it calm down, it [the tendon] was pretty angry because we played constant cricket. I have to basically get the strength back into it [the tendon] and see how it responds.”Australia play England between June 22 and July 3 before taking on Pakistan for two Twenty20s and two Tests. Though Haddin was confident of recovering in time to take on Pakistan, he was keen not to rush back too soon and would be focusing largely on the Ashes at home in November-December.”I’m hopeful I can be ready for Pakistan, but if I’m not I’ll have eight weeks to get the strength back [in time for the Australian summer],” Haddin said. ”I have a series of exercises that are designed to do that.”Australia’s physio Alex Kountouris added: “Brad has been struggling with tendon elbow pain (tennis elbow) while batting during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup. As with most tendon injuries, time is required to allow the pain to settle and gradually increase the tendon load.”As such, Brad will not be taking part in the ODI matches against Ireland and England. His availability for the Twenty20 internationals and Tests matches against Pakistan in the UK will be dependent on his progress over the next few weeks.”Paine’s call-up to the one-day team has also allowed Matthew Wade, the Victoria wicketkeeper, to take his place in the Australia A squad to take on Sri Lanka A later this month. The promotion of Wade, 22, is a strong indication that Graham Manou has fallen down the pecking order despite making his Test debut in the Ashes last year.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to make official moves to sign both Franck Kessie and Alessio Romagnoli on pre-contract deals in January.

The Lowdown: Pre-contract alert

Given that the January transfer window has now opened, players can sign for other clubs on pre-contracts if they only have six months left remaining on their existing deals.

It could be a real boost for some clubs who are able to sign them, as they would not come with any transfer fee whatsoever, although the players would not arrive until the summer.

The Latest: Kessie and Romagnoli moves

As per 90min, Spurs are set to make ‘official moves’ to sign Kessie and Romagnoli from AC Milan on pre-contracts, as they are eligible to enter formal talks with overseas clubs.

The north London club have been especially ‘keen’ to sign the Ivorian midfielder, and Antonio Conte has ‘given his approval’ for Fabio Paratici to ‘push ahead’ with an approach for the player.

However, they are not the only club in the Premier League who are interested in his signature, as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all understood to have ‘made contact’ with his representatives over a potential move.

The Verdict: Get both in

Given that Kessie currently holds a market value of £43.2m, and Romagnoli £18m, bringing both players in for free when they are rated at a combined £61.2m would represent really good business from Tottenham.

Kessie would likely add an abundance of goals and assists from midfield, given some of his want, as left-back Ben Davies has been filling in there under Conte.

Nonetheless, there is heavy competition for the duo, especially for Kessie, so the Lilywhites would do very well to sign up both of them this month.

In other news, this ‘magician’ could return to Hotspur Way