World Cup win may help IPL regain its lost image

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NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League cricket bandwagon rolls into action on Friday with organisers hoping India's World Cup victory last weekend will help the competition regain some of its lost sparkle.

This year's edition -- spread over 51 days and comprising 74 matches across 13 venues -- will be the first after the ousting of its outspoken founder Lalit Modi, who was forced out last year under a cloud of corruption allegations.

The tournament's future had looked in doubt amid claims of corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion, as well as secret deals to hide teams' real owners and even links to India's criminal underworld.

But a massive PR exercise by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ensured the IPL has kept its date with fans, as well as sponsors and advertisers hungry for their share of the huge commercial pie.

IPL chief executive Sundar Raman dismissed fears that cricket fans in India, still recovering from celebrations after Saturday's victory over Sri Lanka in the World Cup final, could suffer sporting overload.

This year's IPL, the fourth time it has been held, will have two new teams in Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors, taking the total number of franchises to 10.

The opening game will feature Chennai Super Kings, led by victorious Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and the Kolkata Knight Riders, owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

This year's tournament has been robbed of some of its sheen after top Australian players Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson pulled out despite the riches on offer.

Most of England's stars, notably big hitter Kevin Pietersen, will also be absent either due to international commitments or injuries, as will Pakistan's cricketers, who were again ignored.

The top foreign talent on offer will be mostly from South Africa -- Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn -- or retired greats such as Australian duo Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.

The much-discussed cheerleader jobs -- all taken by Western women in previous editions -- might be given to locals who will don traditional Indian outfits in place of barely-there miniskirts, local media reports say.

Amid cricket fever in India after the World Cup victory, many fans say they are looking forward to the IPL as a chance to see their heroes from the national side back in action.