Ganguly's $200,000 blunder
Mumbai: Sourav Ganguly may have lost a realistic chance of playing in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL). And it could, perhaps, be ascribed to an error of judgment, moment of madness or may be even greed. If not for one or all of those factors, the former India captain would have donned the purple and orange colours of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
It was reliably learnt that the Kochi IPL team made a last-ditch attempt to rope in Ganguly as a replacement player but their plea was rejected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL on a technical ground. Ganguly himself has to be blamed for this.
Having been ignored at the auction, the only way Ganguly could have come into the IPL fold was as a replacement player. As it transpired, Kochi, who had previously sought permission from the BCCI to recruit Dada outside the auction, has had a vacancy when their Australian recruit Steve Smith pulled out with an injury. It provided Ganguly a window of opportunity.
But it was not to be as Ganguly's base price was higher than the purchase price of Smith. As per the rules, a player can be replaced at the same or lesser price than the placer to be replaced. Smith was purchased by Kochi for $200,000 while Ganguly's base price was $400,000.
Interestingly enough, Ganguly's base price, initially, was put at $200,000. But Dada later, along with a few other players, including Rahul Dravid, had increased it to $400,000. If he had not done that, Ganguly could easily have walked into the Kochi team and fulfiled his dream of playing in the IPL4.
None of the BCCI or IPL officials were willing to comment on the matter but a top Kochi official confirmed to this paper that they made an attempt to recruit Ganguly. 'We had approached the board but it was turned down,' the official told. Kochi, however, have no immediate plans to have a replacement for the Aussie all-rounder. Ganguly was not available for comment immediately.
Meanwhile, Pune Warriors have roped in James Faulkner as a replacement player for Angelo Mathews. The young Australian, who is believed to be a rage in Australia's T20 Big Bash, had remained unsold at the January auction.
His base price was $100,000 and he was taken for $150,000. Mathews, with a base price of $300,000, had gone for a whopping $950,000 at the auction. But a muscle injury, sustained during Sri Lanka's semifinal against New Zealand made him hors de combat for the final against India.
Mumbai: Sourav Ganguly may have lost a realistic chance of playing in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL). And it could, perhaps, be ascribed to an error of judgment, moment of madness or may be even greed. If not for one or all of those factors, the former India captain would have donned the purple and orange colours of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
It was reliably learnt that the Kochi IPL team made a last-ditch attempt to rope in Ganguly as a replacement player but their plea was rejected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL on a technical ground. Ganguly himself has to be blamed for this.
Having been ignored at the auction, the only way Ganguly could have come into the IPL fold was as a replacement player. As it transpired, Kochi, who had previously sought permission from the BCCI to recruit Dada outside the auction, has had a vacancy when their Australian recruit Steve Smith pulled out with an injury. It provided Ganguly a window of opportunity.
But it was not to be as Ganguly's base price was higher than the purchase price of Smith. As per the rules, a player can be replaced at the same or lesser price than the placer to be replaced. Smith was purchased by Kochi for $200,000 while Ganguly's base price was $400,000.
Interestingly enough, Ganguly's base price, initially, was put at $200,000. But Dada later, along with a few other players, including Rahul Dravid, had increased it to $400,000. If he had not done that, Ganguly could easily have walked into the Kochi team and fulfiled his dream of playing in the IPL4.
None of the BCCI or IPL officials were willing to comment on the matter but a top Kochi official confirmed to this paper that they made an attempt to recruit Ganguly. 'We had approached the board but it was turned down,' the official told. Kochi, however, have no immediate plans to have a replacement for the Aussie all-rounder. Ganguly was not available for comment immediately.
Meanwhile, Pune Warriors have roped in James Faulkner as a replacement player for Angelo Mathews. The young Australian, who is believed to be a rage in Australia's T20 Big Bash, had remained unsold at the January auction.
His base price was $100,000 and he was taken for $150,000. Mathews, with a base price of $300,000, had gone for a whopping $950,000 at the auction. But a muscle injury, sustained during Sri Lanka's semifinal against New Zealand made him hors de combat for the final against India.
News Posted: 22 April, 2011
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