Why Cricket is not part of the Olympics?

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But at first place, what makes the Olympic Games different than other sports events?

Why Cricket is not part of the Olympics?

The Olympic Games are one of the biggest sporting events of our time. Athletes from the entire world take part in this traditional event. Their achievements are watched from both near and far by hundreds of millions of spectators and the Olympic medals become Country’s status symbols and athletes’ pride. The Games are held every four years. They are the largest sporting celebration in terms of the number of sports on the program.

The Games are also part of a broader framework which is that of the Olympic Movement. The purpose of the Olympic Movement is to:

- Link sport with culture and education

- Promote the practice of sport and the joy found in effort

- Help to build a better world through sport practiced in a spirit of peace, excellence, friendship and respect.

The obvious question comes to a Cricket Lover’s mind is why Cricket is not a part of the historical Olympics?

And that brings us to the basic question as to what are the criteria for a sport to be part of the Olympic game? After thorough search, I found official explanation from none other than the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Explanation offered:

...The IOC sets the program and decides which sports will be included. The IOC also has the right to accept or refuse any proposed new sport, discipline or event.

Sport - For a sport to be made an Olympic sport it has to be governed by an International Federation recognized by the IOC.

e.g.: Swimming at the Games is governed by the International Swimming Federation (FINA)

In case of Cricket, it is International Cricket Council (ICC)

Discipline - an Olympic sport comprises one or several disciplines.

e.g.: Water polo and diving are disciplines of swimming.

In case of Cricket, Twently20 makes the optimal choice

Event - a discipline includes one or more events or competitions. An event gives rise to a result for which medals are awarded.

e.g.: The 10m platform for women is a diving event; the men’s 500m is a speed skating event.

A football style or Cricket World-cup Cricket format can bring a winner to whom medal can be presented

Above basic notions are to be followed by IOC for selecting a sport. In addition, below criteria should be met by the sport itself to push its case forward to IOC:

World Cup T20 2012 and other tour schedules

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Which is the the next (exciting) Cricket series?

After the glamorous, noisy, controversial and thrilling IPL season 5 got over, cricketing fields are empty, stands are uncrowded, TV channels are running soccer news in otherwise "only cricket" news hours, facebook cricket pages, groups, blogs are not finding anything substantial to comment on, offices are no longer following cricinfos and all the Cricket Lovers are getting bored without any magnificent battle on cricket ground. And then one colleague asks me, 'hey when is the next match?'

Thus, comes this post. Following images are the schedules of important international series that would take place in coming months. Following list of schedules contain the important series like Aus vs Eng, Ind vs SL, NZ vs Ind, Eng vs Ind and perhaps the most awaited event - T20 World Cup schedule. Let's check in chronological order.

(P.S.: Please click on the image to view them to the original size, and yes, you can download them to your device and share with your friends)

1. Australia's Tour of England : June - July 2012

Australia's Tour of England : June - July 2012

2. India's Tour of Sri Lanka : July - August 2012

3. New Zealand's Tour of India : August - September 2012

New Zealand's Tour of India : August - September 2012

4. T20 World Cup 2012, Sri Lanka Schedule:

Cricket Rules - No Ball

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Know, if you know the No Ball!

Do you remember the second last over of KKR vs CSK IPL 2012 final, when Bisla –after scoring blitzkrieg and Kallis – were back to the dugout. CSK had a real hope to win the title clash. Ben Hilfenhaus was bowling the crucial last ball of 19^th over – 7 balls remaining, 16 still runs required. Tik tik – tik tik and he bowls a ball which Shakib ul Hasan plays in the air – gets caught – and meanwhile umpire calls it a NO BALL for ball above waist height. Between all these commotions, batsmen completed 2 runs. Then, equation became 7 balls remaining, 13 runs to get (1 run of no ball + 2 runs that batsmen ran). The extra ball that required to be bowled fetched another 4 runs for KKR thanks to Shakib for that leg glance, simplifying the equation to 9 runs from 6 balls. Rest is history now!

No Ball Signal

The NO BALL was, in effect – 1 delivery bowled and 7 runs scored! This was, for me, the one of the costliest errors made by CSK bowlers. The No Ball can be this much harsh. What are the different scenarios in which an umpire can call a ball- No Ball? What do the rules say? It is simple, is it? Are you sure about the simplicity? Let’s check it out!

The 7 laws of a NO BALL

1.       Right hand – over the wicket!

  A.      Oh Yes, the umpire shall make sure whether the bowler intends to bowl right handed or left handed, over or round the wicket, and shall so inform the striker. It is unfair if the bowler fails to notify the umpire of a change in his mode of delivery. In this case the umpire shall call and signal No ball.

  B.      Underarm bowling shall not be permitted except by special agreement before the match.

Positive effects of IPL

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Why IPL is such a mega hit event - for all of us?

DLF IPL Logo

Indian Premier League (IPL), the glamorous baby of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now entered in its 5th year. For any newly organised event this is sufficient period to make a mark - and so did  IPL, in style. At the beginning of first season in 2008, nobody knew what shape IPL will take. The only know thing was that it may have inspired from English Premier League - ace football league - as far as concept of format was concerned and it was to be played in India - where Cricket is religion.

While taking its shape, IPL has already impacted Cricket, Business and Entertainment. The effects of IPL, there are several - positive and negative. Let's talk the positive effects of IPL.

1. Cricketing Effects

• Youngsters get experience, money:

In country like India, sports is not generally something parents ask their children to persue. Because, if you reach to the top, only then, you get money, fame and can secure your life. Else you are just another unknown face. And you cannot earn a safe bread butter, because you are not a Doctor or an Engineer! But IPL has provided chance for all those 'middle level Cricketers' from India and abroad, who were unknown faces but IPL provided them stage to put their performance and get instant recognition, money and fame. Ravindra Jadeja, prime example from India or Shaun Marsh from Australia.

Talking about experience, how amazing and invaluable would it be for these upcoming young Cricketers to share dressing rooms with the legends of Cricket! What a learning it would be to bat under guidance of Sachin Tendulkar or being trained leg spin by Share Warne. Generally, the international players do not play domestic Cricket. So, these players never have chance to have interaction with the greats of game. But with IPL, it is a 2 month long journey that these youngsters can travel with the big daddys of Cricket. Indeed, the most positive effect IPL.

• International icons playing alongside:

Now how did it feel when Sachin Tendulkar came along with Sanath Jayasurya for opening the innings for Mumbai Indians in first IPL edition? May be the most explosive opening pair one can imagine. What a different site it is when Dale Steyn clean bowled Jack Kallis - his national teammate - and celebrated it wildly. This is another biggest effect of IPL. The iconic players rub shoulders together, forgetting their country monetarily, and bring out the best for their clubs. This is not just interesting to watch but also great professional lesson to everyone of us as to how to value team more than an individual.

IPL also gives rare chance for the ageing and fading icons to play Cricket. This not only extends their innings in Cricket but also gives chance to their fans to see them play again. It is always better to see players like Sourav Ganguly, Adam Gilchrist in Cricketing jersey rather than 3 piece suit, isn't it?

IPL 2012 Theme

IPL Matches Highlights

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The Must Watch Video Highlights of IPL 2012 (Updated after every Must Watch Action on Field)

Hey, did you see Chris Gayle's 5 sixers? Did you see Ajinkya Rahane's 6 fours in an over? Checked yesterday's match highlights? Watched that extraordinary catch in today's match, buddy? Are you able to watch IPL matches - Live? If your answer to all above questions is a big NO... amm... or let's say, a big YES, even then, watching IPL matches' highlights is a very exciting stuff! 

But where do you get the videos that YOU want to watch? Well, who wants to visit a site having 2000+, and counting, IPL 2012 highlights videos, not sorted accordingly our liking, find out which video to watch and then start buffering... time consuming, isn't it? Hmm... not anymore! Bringing specially for YOU, the selective videos which are the must watch! A brilliant catch or a brilliant over bowled, or a superb nail-biting finish or a batting power packed performance happened in IPL till now, you will get all over here.

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• Best Player Bowling: IPL 2012 - MI vs DC - Dale Steyn, Match 40

Watch this for the best spell in this IPL. Steyn - the master of swing, pace, accuracy!

• 2nd Inning Highlights: IPL 2012 - DD vs RR, Match 39

Watch this for
(a) Ajinkya Rahane's performance (b) How one good over can change result of match- 19th over

• 1st Inning Highlights: IPL 2012 - KKR vs RCB, Match 38:

Watch this for Gambhi's fireworks: