Tuskers vs Cobras

Controversy may surround Kochiu00a0IPL franchise, but franchise owners are busy considering names of their home team

Even as the winds of the Kochi controversy spread across the Indian Premier League (IPL) landscape, it is learnt that the top brass of the franchise recently held a meeting to decide on a name for the new outfit.

Insiders said Kerala Tuskers and Kerala Cobras were the two possibilities discussed. They also decided that the state's name would certainly be part of the team name.

A top Kerala official associated with the Kochi team said it was important for the state that Kochi bag one of the two available slots for new teams in the IPL because there would be no more bidding for new outfits for a decade at least.



It is learnt that the IPL organisers are not keen on letting the number of teams go over 10, as it would result in too many matches in the annual tournament and there is a risk of viewers losing interest.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Youth Congress workers close to Shashi Tharoor, said, "Winning the IPL bid is a dream come true for many youths in Kerala.
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The state government is already developing the infrastructure to host the 35th National Games from May 1 to May 14.

This is the second time Kerala is hosting the national games. In the process, two state-of-the-art cricket stadiums with a seating capacity of over 50,000 are planned."

An official from the state secretariat confirmed the proposal, and said one stadium was coming up in Karivatam, Thiruvananthapuram, and the other was planned by the Kerala Cricket Association in Kochi.
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The official said the stadiums should be ready for use by 2011.

A senior Congress worker close to Tharoor said the minister of state was "very hurt" by the allegations of corruption made against him.

He recalled Tharoor telling him: "I have had enough, I am hurt by the nature of the controversy because I am accused of corruption in it."

Kotalwar disappears from Facebook

Post the IPL controversy over the Kochi bid, Jayant Kotalwar, who owns 16 per cent of equity in the Kochi consortium, has vanished from Facebook.
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When the news broke over the rift between Shashi Tharoor and Lalit Modi, Kotalwar through his wall posts stated he was in America and wanted to be away from the media.

When MiD DAY checked Facebook to see his profile yesterday, it had been removed.

Gaekwad not associated with neeta travels, says owner

The owner of Neeta Travels has dismissed news of Ravi Gaekwad being a partner in his company.

Ravi Gaekwad, brother of Shailendra Gaekwad who is the CEO of Rendezvous Sports, was employed with the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Sunil Savla, owner of Neeta Travels, said, "I don't know Ravi nor is he associated with us. I have heard his name for the first time."

Kochi Gochi

Rs 1,530 cr
The winning bid for the Kochi franchise

2011
The year in which the Kochi franchise will participate in the IPL

Rs 70cr
The estimated stake held by Sunanda Pushkar in the Kochi franchise