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IPL monitor: Round-up of the day's news

Mumbai sign Nel as Bravo's replacement

Cricinfo staff

May 17, 2008

	Yuvraj Singh: "I don't take the decisions alone. I talk to Tom [Moody] and Mahela [Jayawardene] before making the choice" © AFP

Nel to replace Bravo
Mumbai Indians have secured the services of Andre Nel, the South African fast bowler. Nel comes into the team for Dwayne Bravo, who will fly out to join the West Indies squad ahead of the Australia Tests after the match against Deccan Chargers on Sunday. Rahul Sanghvi, the Mumbai Indians' manager, confirmed Nel would join the squad on Sunday. Nel had been contracted by English county side Essex till their match against Middlesex on Sunday, but they have released him early.

Kolkata angered by article suspecting Shoaib
An article in a Pakistani newspaper suggesting Shoaib Akhtar was questioned at Karachi airport - en route to India for the IPL - on an "inordinately large supply of syringes in his luggage" has sparked some controversy. The report, published in the Nation, has also prompted the Kolkata Knight Riders, for whom Shoaib is currently playing, to threaten legal action against the paper.

"You can check the luggage details of Shoaib from the Kolkata airport authorities," Joy Bhattacharya, Kolkata's cricket manager, said in a statement. He also pointed out that, contrary to the report, Shoaib travelled to Kolkata from Lahore, and via New Delhi, not Mumbai. Shoaib, along with Mohammad Asif, tested positive for the steroid nandrolone during an internal dope test conducted by the Pakistan board ahead of the Champions Trophy in 2006.

Gilchrist satisfied with security arrangements
Adam Gilchrist is confident the security measures taken by the IPL organisers following the bomb blasts in Jaipur is adequate and he hopes the tournament will go on. "Whatever happened in Jaipur was a tragedy but I'm sure they will put in place adequate security measures for the IPL," said Gilchrist, who plays for the Deccan Chargers, who don't have any matches left in Jaipur.

Gilchrist's compatriots, Shane Warne and Shane Watson, had considered returning home but are now likely to play for the Rajasthan Royals against the Bangalore Royal Challengers in Jaipur on Saturday. Rajasthan coach Jeremy Snape said his team was focused on the game. "The general public may obviously be concerned about the situation, but we will switch over to cricket. We have five more games to play and one or two wins should enable us book a place in the semifinal and there's no bigger incentive than this."

Fearless Bangalore
Misbah-ul-Haq, a middle-order batsman for the Bangalore Royal Challengers, backed his captain Rahul Dravid who has been criticised for his team's repeated poor show in the IPL. "When a team is losing people start talking, but a captain is only as good as his team," Misbah said. "One cannot blame the captain alone for losing, even the other players are responsible to get positive results." Bangalore have won only two out of their nine matches.

Happy captain
One captain who is enjoying the role of leading his side is Yuvraj Singh. Kings XI Punjab have won six games and Yuvraj said he hadn't made any conscious efforts to be a good captain. "Honestly, it hardly matters what others feel as long as my team is comfortable with what I expect," Yuvraj told the Hindu. "In any case, I don't take the decisions alone. I talk to Tom [Moody] and Mahela [Jayawardene] before making the choice. I am lucky to have such a wonderful combination. The players back each other strongly and especially someone who has not done well."

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