Pravin for Delhi Daredevils
Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Pravin Kumar will be a part of the Delhi franchise of the IPL, for which players were recently auctioned in Mumbai, reports PTI from New Delhi.
“Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, RP Singh and Piyush Chawla of Uttar Pradesh have already been purchased by various IPL franchises. Now Pravin Kumar will be playing for the Delhi team,” said Rajiv Shukla, Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association.
Junior Hussey ‘embarrassed’
Australian cricketer David Hussey is flattered but embarrassed to know that he attracted a higher price than his star compatriots such as captain Ricky Ponting and Brad Hodge at the players’ auction for IPL franchises.
Hussey, who has been purchased by Kolkata franchise for UDS 625,000, said he initially thought the price was a joke as it was 300,000 Australian dollars more than Ponting and 250,000 dollars higher than Shane Warne.“He (Mike Hussey) sent me a text message this morning and said, ‘I can’t believe you’re worth double what I am,’ Hussey said.
Vettori apprehensive
New Zealand could begin their tour of England in April without three leading players, who will be competing in the cash-rich IPL New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has admitted, reports Reuters from Wellington.
Vettori, who has signed with the Delhi side in the eight-team Twenty20 competition, said he was in discussions with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) about arriving in England ten days before the start of the first Test on May 15 to allow him to play six IPL matches.
“We’re working through it at the moment. I hope I’m available for a number of games for obvious reasons but we have to sit back and wait, “ he said.
IPL to compensate Yousuf
Despite failing to make it to a franchise team of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mohammad Yousuf is all set to make bagful for money. “Though no one came forward to bid for Yousuf, like many  other international cricketers, the IPL has fixed 350,000 dollars as the starting bid for him which he will get from the authorities,” Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Media Director Ahsan Hameed Malik said.
There were no bids for the batsman in the players’ auction, because of a dispute between the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and the IPL.
Langer ditches IPL for county
Former Australian opener Justin Langer has ditched IPL for English county cricket.
Langer said he will honour his commitment to Somerset instead of playing for the Jaipur team in the tournament starting on April 18.
“I have made a commitment to Somerset and I intend to honour it. I made that clear when I first signed with IPL and I have no hesitation sticking to it. When you go to your grave, people will remember what you did with your life rather than how much money you made,” Langer was quoted as saying by The Age.