Karachi (PTI): BCCI may have promised that the Indian Premier League would not interfere in teams’ international commitments but the cash-rich Twenty20 venture has had an impact on the proposed one-day series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Sources close to top PCB officials told PTI that the two boards had come under pressure soon after PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf announced that Sri Lanka had confirmed touring Pakistan for the series.

It was learnt that the tentative dates were set for April 23 to May 5 after Sri Lanka end their tour of the West Indies on April 15.

The sources disclosed that IPL officials have conveyed to PCB that as their league is due to start on April 18 and several Pakistani and Sri Lankan players were signed on to play for franchised teams, their non-availability would affect the multi-billion dollar event.
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As the action in the DLF IPL Twenty-20 cricket league heats up, the big question on everyone’s lips is: how much money will the franchisees make?

Back-of-the-envelope calculations carried out by FE, together with analysts and media planners, reveal that cutting through all the glamour and glitz, running a team will be a tough business proposition.

While earnings may be positive from the first year, it will take around seven or eight years before the operations start to pay back the initial capital spend.
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Bollywood super star Shahrukh Khan is going all the way to promote his IPL cricket team, the Calcutta Knight riders, using all his might and wit.

From music videos to live performance, he is pulling out all stops to promote his team. The latest rumor is that he will himself be joining the team as the Twelfth member. The twelfth member is a reserve, the one who brings drinks between the overs, new bats and gloves for the boys on the pitch etc. Shahrukh Khan thus wants to encourage his team as closely as possible.
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THE GUARDIAN: IS Bindra says the Anti-corruption code of ICC will be applicable in the IPL.

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) hasn’t just got players, fans and Bollywood stars excited but even the bookies can’t wait for the action to begin.

They believe matches can be fixed when the Twenty20 tournament starts on April 18, but IPL bosses are sure their moves will come to naught.

But across the country, men who form part of cricket’s underbelly are licking their lips in anticipation, as the bookies believe that with no national pride to play for, IPL matches and players will be easy targets.
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