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Mumbai, Mar 28 (PTI) Just two days after Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan said the team would be having multiple captain in the second season of the Indian Premier League, Sourav Ganguly and team owner Shah Rukh Khan today met here for an ad-shoot for the side.
It was last season’s permanent skipper Ganguly and Shah Rukh’s first meeting after Buchanan expressed his desire to have four captains in the second edition of the IPL starting April 18 in South Africa.

“The decision has got nothing to do with Sourav’s performance. Chris Gayle (West Indies), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) and Ganguly will all captain KKR. There will be a nominated captain for each game,” he had said.

Kolkata: In a surprise announcement, Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday said they were “still discussing the issue of captaincy”, hinting at uncertainty over star cricketer Sourav Ganguly continuing as the leader of the team in the second season.

KKR coach John Buchanan told reporters they were still discussing about the team skipper for the high-profile event, which has less than a month left for its start.

“We are deciding about it. We are still having discussion on the issue,” Buchanan said in reply to a query as Kolkata franchise announced a 28-member squad for the second edition of the Twenty20 extravaganza.

The World Cup winning Australian coach, now in charge of KKR, said they have almost retained the same squad having few recruitments from the camp, after announcing the team.

“Over the next couple of weeks, I will again try to prune the squad… hopefully to bring it around the number of 22 depending on how the boys progress in the next few days,” Buchanan said, adding their objective in the IPL second edition is to make the summit showdown.

“From our perspective, our target goal will certainly be to make it to the the final of the series…I think that’s an expectation well within our reach. That’s quite realistic… For that, we have to look into the differences last year and this year.”

“In terms of international players, some of the major difference will be Chris Gayle who will be available throughout the season. Brendon McCullum, who played about four games, will also be available for the whole tournament,” he said.

NAPIER (AP): Gautam Gambhir batted nearly 11 hours for 137 and V.V.S. Laxman made a stylish 124 not out as India batted through the final day to reach 476 for four and draw the second cricket test against New Zealand, consolidating a 1-0 series lead.

Gambhir batted 17 minutes less than 11 hours to secure the match for India on Monday, sharing partnerships of 133 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (62), 97 with Sachin Tendulkar (64) and 96 with Laxman.

He was out in the 160th over of the innings, when India was 356 for four, leading by 42 runs overall after following on 314 behind on the first innings. India was out for 305 in its first innings, replying to New Zealand’s 619 for nine declared.

  ISLAMABAD, March 3 (Xinhua) — The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the terror attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in the eastern city of Lahore.

    ”The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the terror attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Lahore this morning. The attack was perpetrated by the enemies of Pakistan-Sri Lanka friendship,” said a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

    Full investigation is being carried out into the attack and the perpetrators of this heinous crime would be given exemplary punishment, the statement said.

    It also mentioned that a special investigation team had been constituted for this purpose and the Pakistani government was making necessary arrangements for the safe return of the cricket team to Sri Lanka and was in touch with Sri Lankan authorities.

    ”Pakistan greatly values its relations with Sri Lanka. Our two countries have maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relationship which is based on mutual trust and interest in preserving regional peace, security and stability,” said the statement.

    At least five policemen and two others and six cricket players of Sri Lanka were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at the players’ bus and the policemen escorting them, according to local TV channel reports.