It’s getting cold up in the north and for me it’s nice to be playing cricket in India in cool climes. But once we get on to the field it does not really affect the way we play our game.

At the start of the Indian Cricket League, the first aim of the Kolkata Tigers was to make the semi-finals and as such our first mission has been accomplished. It is also nice for the boys that we have topped the group.

At the same time, it’s just the first step, which now gives us a chance to win the tournament. We are all ready to put in the hard work and are surely looking towards being the champions.

Just like us, the other teams in the semi-finals have also warmed up and the competition now will only get hotter. There are a few skilful players in every side but for us it is important that we only worry about our own game and look at the best we can do rather than begin worrying about the opposition. We need to do the basics well and bother about ourselves.

It’s Twenty20 cricket and in this form of the game it takes one person to have a good day and someone to bowl well to change the course of a match. Keeping that in mind our main focus would be to keep trying hard in the field and giving things our best shot.

With the progress of the tournament, the wickets are also getting better and one can be assured of thrilling contests.

Among the big guns, Craig McMillan did a fine job for us the other night against Hyderabad Heroes and so did Darren Maddy.

We also have some good youngsters in our team and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala is one such tremendous little batsman, who is also a great fielder. If given the opportunity, he’s one for the future.

We also have some young fast bowlers in our team who will surely dazzle in the remaining games and in the future if given good guidance will have the world to go and play the game for a living.

For now, two big games are coming up and the excitement is guaranteed. Kolkata Tigers surely do not want to be left out.

CHANDIGARH: Telecom service provider Spice has tied up with the Essel Group’s Indian Cricket League (ICL) to provide the live coverage of their ongoing Twenty20 tournament to its subscribers.

The launch of the service, named Spice TV, was attended here today by former international cricketers including Brian Lara and Chris Cairns, who are in the city to participate in the inaugural Twenty20 tourney.

“Our subscribers, both pre-paid and post-paid can now choose from a bouquet of 13 channels ranging from news, entertainment to cartoon channels,” Mukul Khanna, Vice President Marketing, Spice Telecom said.

For watching all the channels, that Spice TV offers, the subscribers will have to pay Rs 175 per month.

The pre-paid subscribers also have the option of paying per day at the rate of Rs 10 for watching all channels while subscribing only to news channels will cost Rs 125 per month and Rs 100 for the entertainment pack.

Panchkula, Haryana: The Hyderabad Heroes led by former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq faltered in a do-or-die match here Wednesday evening, crashing out of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty20 championship after losing to the Kolkata Tigers by 53 runs.

The Kolkata Tigers, who became the last team to make it to the semi-final round of the breakaway championship, finished on top of the points table.

With the Brian Lara-led Mumbai Champs already out of the semi-final slots, the Heroes became the second star-studded team to be knocked out of ICL at the Tau Devi Lal cricket stadium.

The Heroes, who opted to field first after winning the toss, could not put up a solid batting performance as Tigers’ bowlers S Tarafdar, who was declared the player of the match, and Lance Klusener picked up three wickets each.

Chasing a target of 169 runs, the Heroes were bundled out for 115 runs in 16.2 overs.

Earlier, the Tigers scored 168 runs for five wickets in their 20 overs with skipper Craig Macmillan leading from the front with a 35-ball 50 runs, including four sixes.

Brief scores:

Kolkata Tigers: 168 for 5 wickets in 20 overs (Craig Macmillan 50 runs in 35 balls)

Hyderabad Heroes: 115 all out in 16.2 overs (Abdul Razzak 37 runs from 28 balls, S Tarafdar 3/20, Lance Klusener 3/26)

Delhi Jets entered the semi-finals of the inaugural Indian Cricket League’s (ICL) Twenty20 tournament with a thrilling six-wicket win over Chennai Superstars at the Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium in Panchkula on Wednesday.

Jets captain Marvan Atapattu, who was also adjudged the Man of the Match, scored a brilliant 64 off 43 balls in his team’s 175-run chase. Chennai Superstars have already qualified for the semis.

Put in to bat first, Chennai Superstars started on a positive note with opener Ian Harvey (30) and G. Vignesh (18). Chris Read was the top scorer with 37 as the Chennai team posted 174 for six in 20 overs.

Delhi Jets also started their chase at a brisk rate with openers Taufiq Umar (20) and Monish Mishra (37). Captain Atapattu smashed six fours and two sixes in his 64 and guided his team to a six-wicket win.

Karachi : The PCB on Wednesday said it was not aware of Mohammad Yousuf taking the India Cricket League to the court but reiterated support to the batsman on the issue.

Some media reports had claimed that Yousuf has filed a suit in a Lahore civil court in which he has asked for a hefty 21.5 crore rupees as compensation for damaging his reputation and causing him mental anguish.

The reports further claimed that he made the former captain Moin Khan, who is working as an agent for the ICL, a party in the case.

“Yes we are 100 percent behind Yousuf in any move by the ICL to drag him to court or claim damages from him for not playing for them. But until now we do not have any knowledge of Yousuf having filed any petition in Lahore,” Shafqat Naghmi, a Board official said.

“I think given the way we have been involved in this ICL issue if Yousuf decided to file any petition he would talk to us about it,” Naghmi said.

Yousuf has claimed, as per reports, that he had returned the first instalment of the contract money and for the cancellation of his ICL contract.

The ICL has summoned Yousuf for an arbitration hearing in India on December 16 as they claim that he violated his contractual obligations by not playing for them and instead signing another contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB has been backing Yousuf in his stand-off with the ICL.

Naghmi expressed surprise over the media reports.

“I do not know how it can happen because he has been in India since last month. But yes we will support him if he needs our help,” he said.

However, Naghmi admitted that the Board had sought legal advice in India for Yousuf when the ICL first sent him a legal notice.

Naghmi maintained that PCB’s policy on players, who have opted to play for the ICL remains unchanged.

“The players who have now appeared in ICL will not be considered for national selection until there is a change in policy.”

Pakistan has six players appearing in the ongoing ICL matches including former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.