IPL cap may be raised

The cap of $5 million on buying of players by each of the eight Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise teams might see an upward revision in the near future, IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said on Tuesday. The IPL Governing Council will hold a three-day meeting in Goa from October 16-18 at which the cap on the players will come up for review, he told reporters. He said on January 29, 2009 has been tentatively fixed as the date for the next auction of the players. Modi also said the IPL has already kept open a month-long period as the players' transfer window from one franchise to another. "The players' transfer window will be between December 15 (2008) and January 15 (2009)," he said. The IPL Commissioner also announced that the champions of the first edition of the multi-million dollar T20 league, Rajasthan Royals, have the right to decide on the venue for the summit clash of the 2009 edition. Likewise the runners-up of the 2008 IPL, Chennai Super Kings, can decide about the venues of the two semi finals, he said, while giving details about revenue sharing from these matches. Owners of the Mumbai franchise (Mumbai Indians) had the right to organise the semi finals and the final of the inaugural edition held between April 18 and June 1 this year and chose Mumbai as the venue for all three ties.

'Not out' Dravid walks out

An oversight cost Rahul Dravid his wicket on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday. India were in a good position when the one-down batsman walked in to join Virender Sehwag. But for the third time in a row, the former captain 'lost' his wicket to Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis. Dravid had scored just two runs. It was a googly that grazed his bat and pad and went straight to the fielder, Malinda Warnapura, at forward short-leg. An immediate appeal followed and Dravid began walking back to the pavilion, saving the umpire the trouble of taking what would have been a difficult decision. However, TV replays showed that the catch was deflected off Warnapura's hand and went on to hit his helmet which meant that the batsman was not out as per rules. But even as Warnapura was fumbling with the ball before completing the 'catch', Dravid had left the crease. As per laws, it is not a fair catch if the ball has touched a protective helmet, worn by a fielder, although the ball remains in play. When Sehwag was asked about the dismissal, he said, "I could not pick it up from the non-striker's end, but I felt it had hit the helmet. I feel if Sri Lankan fielders knew about it then appealing for the catch was against the spirit of the game."