By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be the richest cricketing event to be played in India. The winners of the eight-team tournament will receive $1.2 million (Rs.48 million). The total prize money will be a staggering $3 million (Rs.120 million).
The runners-up will get $600,000 (Rs.24 million) while the two losing semi-finalists would be richer by $300,000 (Rs.12 million) each.
The total prize money will then further be divided amongst other teams, the team finishing fifth collecting $200,000 (Rs.8 million) and the sixth finisher earning $175,000 (Rs.7 million). The team finishing seventh on the league table will get $125,000 (Rs.5 million) while the eighth finisher will earn $100,000 (Rs.4 million).
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IPL no option for now, says Flintoff
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has declined to rule out future participation in the IPL, but maintained that it is currently not an option for him.
Flintoff, 30, is still recovering from a fourth operation to his left ankle and says that his only aim is playing cricket for Lancashire and England.
“We will have to see what happens and how the competition pans out, but my sights are firmly set on Lancashire,” he said.
“I have got no definite thoughts either way about it because I just want to get my game in order and my cricket in order. At this moment in time, it is not really an option but further down the line, who knows.”
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has admitted that he would love to attract England’s top stars to the Twenty20 mega event.
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Shoaib’s IPL contract is still valid: Modi
Banned Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar contract with the Indian Premier League (IPL) is valid and would be allowed to play if he is cleared by the Pakistan Appeallate Tribunal, said Modi.
“His contract is still valid and has not been cancelled. He is still contracted to the IPL and through it to the Kolkata Knight Riders,” said Modi.
Shoaib has been served a five-year ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for criticising it.
As per the rules of the Indian cricket board any player who had been suspended by any other cricket board would not be allowed to play in the IPL, Modi said.
Shoaib is in the Kolkata Knight Riders team owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan and has a three-year-long contract with the team.