IPL 2017 Does Ben Stokes Deserve Windfall? Yes Says Ian Botham

#IPL2017 #IPL10

#IndianPremierLeague

#England all-rounder #BenStokes was picked up by #RisingPuneSupergiants (#RPS) for IPL 2017.

England legend, #IanBotham says "box-office" Ben Stokes deserves every penny of the more than £1.7 million ($2.1 mn) that the England all-rounder will rake in playing in the Indian Premier League. 

Stokes set a record for an overseas player in the cash-rich #Twenty20 competition when RPS shelled out for him at last week's auction. The 25-year-old Stokes has come up through the ranks at #Durham, where Botham is the newly appointed chairman having finished his illustrious playing career with the English county. 

Botham, one of the outstanding all-rounders of his generation, said he was glad that #Stokes - set to have fresh responsibilities with England as vice-captain to new Test skipper #JoeRoot - was being well-rewarded.

"He is getting for the #IPL what most guys going to China to play football are getting for a fortnight's wages," Botham told a news conference at Durham's #Chester-le-Street headquarters.

"Cricket needs to move and I think players deserve the rewards. It's a precarious living. You can have an injury and never play again and I think people realize that now."

Stokes's aggressive style has been compared to that of Botham in his pomp and the former England captain said: "I am very pleased for Ben. He is box office -- that's why he went for what he went for (in the IPL).

Powered by:

http://www.whowillwinthecup.com

ISL 2016: ATK v Mumbai City FC Semifinal First Leg Promises To Be A Thriller

#ISL2016 #IndianSoccerLeague
#Semifinals

#ATK being the first team to make the semi-finals in all the three editions, former champions know a thing or two about achieving success in the Indian Super League as they today stressed on a winning start in the last-four fixture against Mumbai City FC.

ATK were thrashed 0-3 by Chennaiyin FC last season in the first leg semi-final, something that led to their ouster in 2015.

Having learnt their lessons the hard way, ATK's South African midfielder Sameehg Doutie said they're focused on a winning start and hoped they would have the advantage to start the semifinal leg at home.

#TableToppers #Mumbai City #FC, on the other hand, qualified for the #Semifinals for the first time in three seasons after they outclassed defending champions #Chennaiyin #FC 2-0.

Their only loss at home this season had come against the same team Mumbai City FC who won via a 79th minute Diego Forlan goal in the league fixture on October 25.

Their record at the adopted Rabindra Sarobar Stadium has been poor with only one win (against Delhi Dynamos FC) from seven matches but Doutie said it did not matter.

Powered by: 
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com

ISL 2016: Indian Players Need Better Facilities To Become World Class - FC Goa midfielder Jofre

#ISL2016
#IndianSoccerLeague #Season3

For Indian football to develop, the stress should be on creating an environment where players do not just enjoy the sport but are well aware of their tactical positioning, feels #Spanish #Midfielder #Jofre Mateu Gonzalez.

The #FCGoa #Footballer who robbed Atletico de Kolkata (#ATK) of a win by winning and converting a late #Penalty here on Sunday, said: "You need to have academies where children grow in a #Football environment."

"It's not only about practicing and enjoying the game, but knowing a lot about being part of a team, a lot of skills and #Tactical issues which you must know in your (playing) position," Jofre added.

"It's very good for the #League and for the country. And my mates (Indian players at FC Goa), you can see they are improving every year." Jofre, who has played over 300 games in the second division of the #Spanish #LaLiga, pointed out the importance of off-field activities like nutrition and rest, which are as important as the on-field development.

Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com