MS Dhoni beats Sachin with endorsement deal of Rs 200 crore

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has recently tied a knot with Sakshi has signed a huge 2 year endorsement deal worth Rs 200 crore with a talent management company.

The Rhiti Sports Management and Mindscapes is going to manage the Indian skipper’s long list of endorsements and brand associations, corporate profile, patents and digital rights, images, visibility on social networking sites and merchandise through a joint venture.

Dhoni has surpassed the Tendulkar’s market value where he Master Blaster Sachin had signed three-year deal with sports management firm Iconix 2006 that was worth Rs 180 crore.

Confirming the development, Rhiti Sports General Manager (Operations) Sanjay Pandey said, “Yes, we have entered into a two-year contract with Dhoni for Rs 200 crore. We have signed the contract a week back. From now onwards we will be handling Dhoni’s endorsements.”

Besides Dhoni, RP Singh and Harbhajan Singh also make the active members of the Rhiti Sports Management Company.

Dhoni is currently endorsing 22 brands like PepsiCo, Reebok, Aircel, Godrej and Hersheys. And now this deal has proved his marriage lucky for him as predicted by Dhoni’s astrologer

Olive appoints Kapil Deb brand ambassador

Olive Telecommunication has appointed legendary cricketer Kapil Dev as its Goodwill Ambassador in India. The company is in the business of Convergence Solutions Device Developer.

The company will take help of Kapil Dev to propagate its extensive range of innovative devices like OliveFrvrOn, which is India’s phone that has triple sim QWERTY keypad. The company is confident that its association with Kapil will lend an edge to its new products in the Indian market.

Kapil also has expressed his pleasure to be with the brand like Olive due to cutting edge technology of the company products.

Pakistan minister to represent country at Sania-Shoaib reception

Pakistan Population Welfare Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, cricketer Sohail Tanvir and singer Waris Baig have arrived here to attend the wedding reception of Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza Thursday evening.

Awan, who landed in Hyderabad Wednesday night, hoped that the marriage of the two celebrities would help strengthen the ties between India and Pakistan.

“I am here to attend the wedding reception and I am confident that this marriage will help in the peace process,” she told reporters at the airport.

The minister, who would represent the Pakistani government at the reception Thursday, said she would present a gold crown to Sania as a special gift from the people of Sialkot, Shoaib’s home town. The minister also comes from the same town.

Awan, who is on a five-day visit to India at the invitation of union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, will also hand over gifts from Pakistan President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to the couple.

The minister reiterated that the newly-wed couple would be brand ambassadors of Pakistan population welfare ministry.

“We are aware of the legal process in India and the issue of passport will be resolved very soon,” she said when asked about Shoaib’s passport, which is still with a city court.

The Hyderabad Police have said it could take a week for the former Pakistan skipper to get back his passport as he would have to complete legal formalities with regard to the closure of the case filed against him by his first wife Ayesha Siddiqui.

Ayesha withdrew her complaint against Shoaib after the latter divorced her. But the cricketer’s passport, seized by the police after grilling him April 5, is still with the court.

The Pakistani cricketer married the Indian tennis ace Monday.

Meanwhile, the stage is set for the gala wedding reception at hotel Taj Krishna in Hyderabad. Sania’s family has invited about 1,000 guests, including film personalities and sportspersons.

Actors Salman Khan and Shahid Kapoor, tennis stars Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati, and ace shuttler Pullela Gopichand are among some of the celebrities expected to attend the reception.

Fans queue as World Cup tickets go on sale

Hundreds of football fans queued outside World Cup ticketing centres around South Africa overnight Wednesday even before the start of over-the-counter ticket sales at 9 am (0800 GMT).

With less than two months to go to kickoff in Johannesburg June 11, there are around 500,000 tickets still available, covering all 64 matches including the final.

World Cup organising body FIFA is hoping that South Africans, who have already bought nearly one million of the 2.2 million tickets sold so far, will buy even more as the purchasing process becomes easier.

Sales to European fans have been disappointing, with many choosing to sit this cup out for financial reasons or because of their concerns about high crime rates in South Africa.

Until now, fans could only apply for tickets through the internet or the branches of South Africa’s First National Bank group. In previous sales phases, the actual tickets were not distributed.

But they are now available for collection at the 11 ticketing centres in nine host cities that are opening to the public Thursday.

In Johannesburg’s business district Sandton, around 600 people had joined a queue outside Laico Isle shopping centre, where one of the ticketing centres is situated, local 702 radio station reported.

Some had begun queueing Wednesday afternoon to try to secure tickets to some of the games most in demand, such as the opening game between South Africa and Mexico and the final.

Shah Rukh Khan to host IPL Awards Ceremony with Karan Johar

Bollywood King Khan, Shah Rukh along with his friend director Karan Johar are going to host the Indian Premiere League (IPL) Awards night that will honor the best players of the T20 tournament. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai on April 23.

The show will be on air in May on TV channel colors that will be a combination of cricket and entertainment where some of Bollywood stars like Oscar winner A.R. Rahman, Shilpa Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Hrithik Roshan will perform.

Ashvini Yardi, programming head, Colors, said, “This star-studded award ceremony will see the superstars of Bollywood and cricket get together to make it the Oscars of the cricketing world. Celebrating sportsmanship, the viewers will be in for colorful treat as IPL champions get felicitated for their performance through the series.”

Talking more about the event, he said, “It will be one of its kind and fitting celebration with lots of exciting performances and brilliant surprises to conclude this year’s IPL action.”

IPL chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said, “IPL has evolved into a uniting force in world cricket and signaled a new era in sports entertainment over the past three seasons. The IPL Awards is the crowning jewel and a fitting event to recognize the best of this season’s breathtaking tournament.”

There are total 22 categories for awards that include batting, bowling, fielding, most stylish player, best stadium and commentator.

All the awards are sub-titled as IPL Jury Awards, Viewers’ Choice Awards, Statistical Awards, IPL Captain’s Awards and IPL Winners Award.

A panel of judges including Lalit Modi, cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara and Javagal Srinath, well-known umpire Simon Taufel, and cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle will adjudge the critics’ choice awards.

The viewers can choose their best player under Viewers’ Choice Awards categories by voting at IPLT20.com or IPLAwards.com

Sourav Ganguly likely to miss the next IPL match

Sourav Ganguly, the captain of Shah Rukh Khan’s IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders is doubtful to play next match o Saturday against Bangalore as he has got an ankle injury.

After the post-match presentation ceremony at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, Ganguly’s ankle got ‘locked’. The team was recently fined for slow over-rate but it is still hopeful to make it to semi-finals.

A physiotherapist in kolkota, Andrew Leipus said that Ganguly’s health will be judged after he comes to Bangalore on Friday. The captain had started walking that is a positive good.

It is the buzz that if Sourav will not lead the team then it may be the West Indian Chris Gayle who would be given a chance.

Dada, we hope you get well soon.

Indian cricketers cancel tour to Australia

A group of Indian cricketers from academies in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh cancelled a tour to Australia due to safety concerns linked to attacks on Indians there, an official said.

Bruce Adams, the organiser of a tour of up-and-comers, said: “Cricket is the greatest tie we have between the two countries.”

The Age reported Wednesday that the tour for 18- to 24-year-olds was scheduled to promote goodwill, pitching first-grade Indian players against local cricket teams in Canberra.

Security concerns forced six players to withdraw, the media report said. “It’s really disappointing. There was nothing I could say to change their minds.

“This is a massive wake-up call for Australia to take responsibility for the actions of everyone,” The Age quoted Adams as saying.

Cricket Australia’s anti-racism officer Peter Young said: “The coverage in India has caused a lot of concern. Cricket should be a bridge between diverse cultures and not a divisive element between the two.”

Tendulkar hits a record double ton in India’s 401/3

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar became the first ever to hit a double century in One-Day International as India made 401 for three in 50 overs in the second match against South Africa at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium here Wednesday.

Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 200 off 147 balls (25x4s, 3x6s) and broke the record of Zimbabwean Charles Coventry (194 not out) set against Bangladesh in Bulawayo last year.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni remained unbeaten on 68 while Dinesh Karthink made 79.

South Africa struggle at 164/5 at lunch on day five

Hashim Amla stood rock solid as South Africa were battling at lunch on the fifth day to save the second cricket Test against India here Thursday.

South Africa lost Ashwell Prince (23) and AB de Villiers (3) in the morning session to reach 164 for five at lunch. Amla, who has had an outstanding series, was batting on 68 while Jean Paul Duminy was still to open his account.

Resuming at 115 for three, Amla and Prince added 43 runs before Harbhajan Singh struck.

Harbhajan set up Prince nicely before the left hander misread a well-flighted delivery and gave a simple catch to Ishant Sharma at mid-off. Prince played 80 balls for his 23 and struck one boundary.

De Villiers was foxed by a googly from Amit Mishra and was dismissed leg before.

Amla, who has scored more than 400 runs in the series so far, held the South African innings at the other end. The right hander played 205 balls and hit nine fours.

Lunch scoreboard: India vs. South Africa, Second Test, Day 5

Scoreboard at lunch on the fifth day of the second cricket Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens here Thursday.

South Africa first innings: 296

India first innings: 643/6 decl.

South Africa second innings (115/3 overnight)

Graeme Smith lbw b Mishra 20

Alviro Petersen c Badrinath b Harbhajan 21

Hashim Amla batting 68

Jacques Kallis c Dhoni b Mishra 20

Ashwell Prince c Sharma b Harbhajan 23

A.B. de Villiers lbw b Mishra 3

Jean Paul Duminy batting 0

Extras (nb 9) 9

Total (for five wickets in 70 overs) 164

Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Smith, 12.1 overs), 2-54 (Petersen, 17.2), 3-111 (Kallis, 33.2), 4-158 (Prince, 61.4), 5-164 (de Villiers, 68.1)

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 6-0-32-0

Harbhajan Singh 25-9-40-2

Ishant Sharma 15-2-48-0

Amit Mishra 18-7-33-3

Virender Sehwag 6-1-11-0

Umpires: Steve Davis (Australia) and Ian Gould (England)

TV umpire: Shavir Tarapore (India)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)