Aussie warning against travel to India

In what could be a huge dampener to the participation of Australian cricketers in the IPL, the Foreign Department has warned them of the “high risk of terrorist activity” in India, reports PTI from Melbourne

“We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in India because of the high risk of terrorist activity by militant groups. Recent credible information indicates that Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata may be the targets of terrorist attacks and, more specifically, that terrorists are planning to conduct suicide attacks in Mumbai or New Delhi,” said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advice for India.

However, Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young did not react on the security concerns in India.

Can Smith, Warne bury the hatchet?

South Africa captain Graeme Smith and Australian spin wizard Shane Warne might not see eye to eye, but Indian Premier League's Jaipur franchise has bought the duo in Wednesday's auction. Now it is making sure that their relationship heals, reports IANS.

The tussle between Warne and Smith boiled over in the Melbourne Boxing Day Test two years ago when South African fielders standing around the bat antagonised Warne.  Now, Smith has already begun the healing process by claiming he was looking forward to sharing the dressing room with Warne.

Bangalore sign up Praveen Kumar

Royal Challengers have snapped up promising Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Praveen Kumar, who is currently part of the Indian ODI side in Australia, reports DHNS.

With the Rahul Dravid-led Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils involved in an intense battle to rope in the youngster, there were conflicting reports coming with BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla going on record saying that Praveen would play for Delhi in the Indian Premier League.

Bangalore, it is learnt, signed up the player before the Virender Sehwag-led side approached him with a higher price. Bangalore, however, matched Delhi’s offer of Rs 1.2 crore to get Praveen on their board.
Money flows for Symonds, but runs dry up!

After becoming Australia's latest million-dollar cricketer, it seems that Andrew Symonds is a distracted soul and runs off his bat have dried up, the media reported on Saturday, reports IANS from Sydney.

According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, Symonds is failing to deliver what Australia needs most - runs. He has scored 42 runs at an average of just 8.40 in six ODIs in the tri-series. That figures are simply not good enough for the second-highest paid player in the IPL.