Force to be reckoned with....

Here is what Mr.Mallya has to say about....

The team has yet to score a point after 10 races this year, and neither Giancarlo Fisichella nor Adrian Sutil has made it into the second session of qualifying.

However, Mallya feels Force India are a work in progress, and they have managed to outshine a number of their rivals who work with bigger budgets.

"Let's look at the hard facts - we've had a 12th-placed finish and a 10th-placed finish," asserted Mallya.

"We've had double finishes and very competitive races - just look at Monaco.

"We've raced with teams whose budgets are twice as much as ours, with manufacturer support, and we've finished ahead of them - you can't take this away from us.

"What I am really pleased about, however, is the progress we have made in the times relative to others. I can honestly say we are the most improved team on the grid.

"Last year we were four seconds off the front and two seconds from the rear of the field, but in the German Grand Prix we were just one second from the top five.

"No other team has found two seconds from last year, so clearly this is a reason to be satisfied."

Ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the last before F1 heads off on its summer break, Mallya has no regrets about taking up the task of resurrecting his team's fortunes.

It has meant dipping into his vast personal fortune to do so, but he added: "It's been every bit as good, and as frustrating, as I expected it to be.

"I'm very proud of what this small team has achieved, and how we are pulling together to show some good progress and showings that no-one in the field expected us to do.

"On the other hand there have been challenges, as I knew there would be, and disappointments, but the good far outweighs the bad.

"I have no regrets at all about becoming involved in the team, and I am really looking forward to the second part of the year."

BCCI rejects ECB's rival league offer..

The BCCI has rejected an offer from the ECB to join England's version of the Champions League to be held in Sharjah this October.

It's understood that David Collier, the chief executive of the ECB, invited the Indian board to join the ECB's tournament. However, the BCCI replied on Monday saying that, though it "wished the ECB all the best" with its tournament, "unfortunately, we cannot accept" the invitation.

An ECB spokesperson contacted by Cricinfo said he was not aware of the development.

The BCCI's reply, sent on its behalf by Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, suggests its position is final. It wants "to avoid playing ping-pong over email" on this issue, reliable sources told Cricinfo. Modi is also understood to have "clearly informed" the eight IPL franchises that they can participate only in tournaments run and approved by the BCCI.

It would have been "very unusual" for the BCCI to accept the ECB's proposal to join another Champions League, the sources said, considering the Indian board had already announced the dates and venues of its own tournament. Significantly, the ECB's offer says the tournament will be held in Sharjah, which was blacklisted by the Indian government following the allegations of match-fixing. "No Indian team will be going there, at least not with the BCCI's permission", the sources said.

As far as the BCCI is concerned, it will now focus on its Champions League along with Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa, who are said to be on board. "Already, more teams are lined up for next year, including West Indies, which has confirmed its participation," the sources said.

On Sunday, Collier was quoted by BBC as saying, "I would be bitterly disappointed if all four nations aren't represented by their two top teams. We will be discussing with our counterparts in Australia, South Africa and India to try to iron out the last few items within the rules and regulations."

The BCCI-backed Champions League will be played this year in India from September 29 to October 8 at three venues - Jaipur, New Delhi and Mohali. The final details of tournament will be finalized in Mumbai on Wednesday at a meeting to be attended by officials from the BCCI, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA).

Modi had told Cricinfo on Sunday that the ECB would not be represented at the meeting and the tournament was also unlikely to include England, which "has been unreasonable" in continuing to object to various rules and regulations.

The BCCI's Champions League originally planned to include the top two Twenty20 domestic teams from India, Australia, South Africa and England. With the ECB's participation in doubt, Modi said a team from Pakistan was confirmed while the last slot may be filled by a team from New Zealand or even Sri Lanka

source:cric info

What's wrong with India....

The Indian cricket team showed a poor performance in the First Sri Lanka, at the SSC grounds...I donno why they made a such a poor start...I think they were lacking in the shot selection as said by The team's coach Kirsten...The referral system made a lot of difference for both the teams where Indians were unlucky with some dismissals...They again proved that the find a bit difficult to read mendis's deliveries..Murali was as usual brilliant with his spell, the both spin partners just dismisses India for less than 150 in the second Innings..For India laxman and gauti showed some resistance..But they were finding it difficult to face Mendis..They have to improve a lot in the second test that starts by this month end.Kumble and kirsten have a long way ahead to face the lankans...They have to improve a lot..Mean while Srilankan Batsman were playing it with an ease there were four centuries..All played well,and my question is why can't India bowl like the Lnkans..It's the same pitch..y the Indian spinners find it difficult to bowl in correct line and length???,the next test is at Galle, which is again a bowling pitch...Adding a extra spinner or a pacer will make things for India I hope...any How Indians have a long way ahead and they have to try and level the series at least....

Is 300 Too Low???

Yea it's the Target am talking about in the Asia Cup...almost all the matches have seen a target of above 300...and this target has been chased down with an ease...The pitches at pakistan are too flat and batsman friendly and curator has nothing to do for the bowlers it seems...Al most all the bowlers are being Hammered mercilessly I recently saw one of the best bowlers of Pakistan Sohail Tanvir went for 87 runs in his 10 overs...He was almost the hero of the IPL for the Rajastan Royals..At lest for the Champions Trophy Pakistan has to do something with their pitches, i Hope the Champions Trophy is hosted by Pakistan This year....

The Asia Cup.....

India finally after playing some good cricket and very tired in the sense reached the finals of the ongoing Asia cup in Pakistan..They Bet Srilanka by chasing a huge target of 309 in just 46 overs, the top order are really playing on well to maintain their strike rate above 90..It's really god to see Suresh Raina promoted up the order is really playing well and dhoni has to appreciated for his captaining...Having lost just a match with pakistan,india some how gained the momentum against srilanka...Now it's all over India Facing Srilanka tomorrow will be in full flow to win the match...I hope India wins the Asia cup with ease..chak de India.....