While Jhunjhunwala has been contacted by Rajasthan Royals and is doing duties for them in England, Eklak has got a call from Mumbai Indians after he accepted BCCI`s amnesty offer.

Eklak and Jhunjhunwala were among the 79 ICL players who benifited from the BCCI`s amnesty offer that allowed them to return to the domestic fold.

 ”I have been approached by Mumbai Indians and I am most likely to join them in the upcoming season,” Eklak told reporters.

He had represented Royal Bengal Tigers for three seasons and bagged most of the wickets last season for the side.

The stylish Bengal batsman, Jhunjhunwala, on the other hand, had attended a weeklong training camp for the IPL champions in Jaipur.

The camp, which concluded Wednesday, was conducted under the supervision of Darren Berry, the team`s coach, and former Indian team physio John Gloster and it prepared the side for their T20 charity match with English T20 champions Middlesex Panthers at Lord`s on Sunday.

After the November ICL tournament was scrapped due to the non availability of Pakistan players in the league, Jhunjhunwala headed to England to play for the Essex leagues where he was spotted by Rajasthan Royals.

The venues and dates for Australia’s tour of India for seven ODIs in October-November have been decided. However, the final schedule would be decided after the logistics are worked out. Guwahati and Delhi get to stage ODIs as matches allotted to them last year (England-India ODIs) were cancelled following the terror attacks in Mumbai. The other five venues – Mohali, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Jaipur and Mumbai – get to stage the ODIs on the rotation policy. The first ODI would be played on October 25 with the other dates being October 28, 31, November 2, 5, 8 and 11. First corporate meet

South Zone will be the venue for the first BCCI Corporate Trophy from September 1 to 8. Twelve teams split into three groups will vie for the trophy in the league-cum-knockout event. One-dayers for women

The BCCI has also decided to do away with the national two-day meet for women, their equivalent of Ranji Trophy. For the next three seasons, there will only be one-dayers and T20 for women.

So where does that leave the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, which was originally scheduled to start on April 23? The scheduled dates of the tournament are from April 23 to May 9.

So will the IPL be clashing with the World T20? Unlikely.
Now one hears that the World Twenty20 will be postponed by a week or 10 days. A source in the West Indies Cricket Board said it could be from April 30 to May 16.

The International Cricket Council officials, currently inspecting the venues in the Caribbean, could not be reached for clarification.

The cascading effect of the IPL will be felt at the domestic cricket level. Because of the advancement of the IPL dates, the next year’s Deodhar Trophy will take a beating.

A top official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India told DNA that the fixtures committee could not find a slot for the premier domestic one-day championship. The Ranji Trophy will begin on November 3 and the first match of the season – Irani Trophy – is likely to be held from October 2.

The fixtures committee has decided to introduce two-tier leagues at the age-group level from this year. The under-22 and under-19 cricket will have Elite and Plate leagues, just like the Ranji Trophy. The committee also decided to revive the inter-state T20 tournament from this year.

Among other things, the committee has identified the venues for the seven ODIs against Australia in October.

There are reports that Kolkata has been ignored but one gets to know that Cricket Association of Bengal has been told that its turn – as per the rotation system of the BCCI – will come during the Sri Lanka series.

Guwahati and New Delhi, which missed out on hosting ODIs against England last year because of terror attacks, have been given the Australia matches. The detailed fixtures of the season will be announced in a couple of days.

“I don’t think the IPL can be conceived in any other way. The home and away concept is so essential to it. This time it was played in South Africa, even there this (concept) worked. Our team got outplayed (in the World T20). I would not look too much into it,” he said after delivering the inaugural Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture.

Gavaskar also saw Indian batsmen’s perennial weakness against short-pitched deliveries as something that was not an added concern as he felt it was due to lack of familiarity with bouncers that did the batsmen in.

“There’s a lot of cricket (that has) been played where there were not many short balls, and so the balance tends to be on the front foot. Then when suddenly there are short pitched deliveries, you couldn’t adjust to it. I think that’s what happened (to the Indian team). I think there need not be too much concern about it,” he said.

The Indian batsmen were made to hop by the short-pitched deliveries bowled at them during the World T20 tournament and in the ongoing ODI series in the West Indies.

On the transition of India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni from an all-out attacking batsman to a more cautious run-getter, Gavaskar said this was perhaps because the Ranchi-born wicket-keeper wanted to prolong his career.

“As a spectator you want to see him as a dasher because you want to get your moneys worth. But there is also the longevity (factor). Dhoni is perhaps cautious in his approach but he is working hard on his batting,” Gavaskar said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator felt even in this age of instant gratification, which has led to the popularity of T20 cricket, there was still time and place for five-day games.

He also said since most Tests these days end in four or a little over four days, the International Cricket Council was mulling over changing its length from five to four days.

“If you take a look, most Tests are giving results in 4 days or 4-1/2 days. Probably that’s why they have mooted this idea. I am sure Test cricket has a place of its own. The players too realize the importance of doing well in Tests,” he said.

Gavaskar also did not think it was proper to blame the IPL for the Cricket Board’s decision to do away with the Deodhar Trophy limited overs tournament in the 2009-10 season.

“I don’t think it’s due to the IPL. There is so much of international cricket — the Champions League, Sri Lanka’s visit and the tour of Bangladesh. I am sure it will be there (in the coming seasons),” he said.

Looking back at his career eight days before his 60th birthday, the legendary opener said he has cherished the affection bestowed on him by the people of India, above everything else.

“(I look back) on the mate-ship and camaraderie from the cricketing fraternity, and above all the affection the people of India have shown on me. No money can buy that spontaneous affection,” he pointed out.

The pre-planned charity match between the champions of the inaugural Indian Premier League and domestic Twenty20 champions of England is scheduled for July 6.

Kaif was asked to attend a practice camp in Jaipur, from where he returned on Wednesday.

Kaif said he had no idea about any decision made by the team management but he is excited to figure in the exhibition match.

“I am very excited to play in this match. I was told by the Rajasthan Royals officials that I have to play in this match and I was asked to make myself available for the match,” he said.

“I don’t know why I was asked to return from South Africa and why now I have been called. You can ask the officials.”

He said he spoke to Manoj Badale — the team owner– and Darren Barry, Assistant Coach during the camp in Jaipur.

“I am trying to quickly adapt to this format and I hope I will be really useful for the team,” he said.

The talented middle-order batsman will be donning Team Jaipur colours during next year’s IPL-III.

Jhunjhunwala attended a week-long camp organised by the IPL-I champions at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium under the supervision of Darren Berry, director, cricket operations, and former Team India physio John Gloster.

The camp, which ended on Wednesday, was arranged to prepare the cricketers for Team Jaipur’s Twenty20 clash with English T20 champions Middlesex Panthers at Lord’s on Monday.

It has been learnt that Jhunjhunwala has made the cut for the match against Middlesex. Another ICL player Faiz Fazal has also been included in the England-bound 14-member squad.

The new boys are expected to sign across the dotted line after the Middlesex match. Jhunjhunwala was playing league cricket in Essex when he was summoned for Team Jaipur trials.

Captain-cum-coach Shane Warne didn’t attend the camp and will join the squad directly in London, but the likes of former India player Mohammad Kaif and Siddharth Trivedi were there at the camp.

According to team sources, Jhunjhunwala’s performance during training and four practice matches impressed Berry. He was then asked to undergo the routine fitness test which he passed.

Jhunjhunwala has played 15 first-class matches (872 runs @ 37.91) for Bengal and East Zone before he signed to play for Royal Bengal Tigers in the ICL.

He scored 615 runs for the ICL outfit with three half-centuries and also took four wickets with his fastish off-breaks. A brilliant fielder, he also took 12 catches and effected six run-outs.

The sports management company which represents Tanvir said in a statement that Tanvir would represent the Rajasthan Royals in the match being played for the British Asian Trust.

Tanvir was the best bowler of the IPL in the first season and played a key role in his team’s title win.

However, he could not play the second edition after the Pakistan foreign ministry advised the PCB not to send its players to India due to security concerns arising out of the tense relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks last November.

The IPL was later moved to South Africa but by that time the IPL franchises had either terminated or suspended the contracts of the Pakistani players due to their unavailability for the second season.

Portfolio world, the sports management company also quoted Shilpa Shetty the co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals as saying that she was excited to have Tanvir back in the team.

“He was truly missed in the IPL second season,” Shetty was quoted in the statement.

Tanvir, the left arm pacer, struggled in the recent T20 World Cup in England and was dropped from the playing eleven.

“Today, parents are encouraging their children to take up cricket as a career option because of the IPL and the amount of money it provides. But the worrying factor is far too many youngsters see IPL as the be all and end all,” Gavaskar said at the inaugural Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture.

The former opener also saw a worrying trend among the youngsters to pull out of domestic matches in order to be injury-free ahead of the IPL.

“A lot of players miss out on domestic cricket before the IPL to avoid injuries. That is what we have to be very careful about, IPL being seen as the be all and end all, not the India cap,” Gavaskar said.

He also advised cricket authorities to guard the youngsters against going astray because of the unbelievable amount of money being paid to even inexperienced players in the IPL.

“The other thing to guard against is players in the age group of 19-22 going the wrong way (because of the money factor). Younger players get carried away by fame, publicity and success,” said Gavaskar and mentioned that it is at such times cricketers like Sardesai, who died exactly two years ago, are missed.

The Twenty20 matches will be played during March and April next year.

“I’m happy to announce the IPL is moving forward next year – we’ll announce the exact dates and schedule over the next few days,” said Modi.

The 2009 event, which begins on Saturday and ends on 24 May, will feature top England players, including Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.

Organisers were forced to switch this year’s tournament from India to South Africa because of security concerns.

It is likely that the 2010 IPL will be held almost immediately after India’s tour to South Africa in February.

And the earlier start means that the event will not clash with the World Twenty20, which is set to be held during April and May.

“After all, these players are now World champions and highly marketable. There is more value on their performances,” Younus said.

He pointed out that top players like Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul and Misbah-ul Haq had signed contracts for $100,000 or less with the IPL when it was launched in 2008.

“But now the scenario is different. These players should talk to their agents in India and ask them to go for a hike in price from the IPL franchises,” he said.

Pakistani players could not take part in the IPL second season which was shifted to South Africa from India due to security reasons.

They were advised against travelling to India for the IPL because of the strained relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks.

But IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said after Pakistan’s World Cup win that he saw no problems in Pakistani players returning to play for their franchises in the IPL next year provided the Pakistan government gives them permission and the Indian government also clears them to play in India.

Younus said any money earned by the players from the IPL would be beneficial for them and for Pakistan as the money would come to Pakistan.

“I am happy if any of our players can be better packages in the IPL for next season,” said Younus, who ended his contract with the Rajasthan Royals before the second season of the IPL.

Younus has also announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket after Pakistan’s World Cup win.

Indications are that Pakistani players including Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir might get a chance to play for their franchise in the Champions League planned this year while Shahid Afridi is also being targeted by Australian state side, New South Wales for Twenty20 cricket.

Asked about the return of the players from the Indian Cricket League to the national team, Younus said it was a good development as this would strengthen the team.

“But I would like to see these players who are now leaving the ICL why they joined this league in the first place.”

Younus was also critical of statements from Imran Nazir and Rana Naved, who have resigned from the ICL asking for surety they would be selected in the national team.

“How can any player be given surety they will play for Pakistan. Razzaq has returned to the team and performed well so he is playing.”