Mumbai Indians' new recruit Jean Paul Duminy, who like his South African colleagues, is thrilled with the switch in venue of the Indian Premier League
Mumbai Indians' new recruit Jean Paul Duminy, who like his South African colleagues, is thrilled with the switch in venue of the Indian Premier League
The prospect of the Mumbai Indians, who have the star cast of Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, JP Duminy and Harbhajan Singh in their squad, being based in Durban excites Shaun Pollock, one of the world's leading all-rounders of his time.
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Pollock, who retired from international cricket at the end of the 2007-2008 season, is now Mumbai Indians coaching advisor after playing for them in the inaugural IPL.
"I'm just delighted that the IPL is being staged in South Africa. But I'm also sad that it is not taking place in India as this event was passionately supported in 2008," Pollock said. "The culture of T20 cricket has caught on in South Africa and with the domestic competition so well supported. I believe we can make the IPL a huge success here," Pollock said.
The former South African all-rounder along with Jonty Rhodes, who is the Mumbai Indian fielding coach, have for the past 10 days had some of the talented youngsters from the squad practicing in Durban.
"It's great news that it will be held in South Africa. However, I don't want the people of India to get me wrong," Rhodes said.
"I love their country, love their passion for the game and I love playing and visiting the sub-continent. But to be nearer home, especially as I have a family is just brilliant," the brilliant fielder added.
Rhodes also said that he watched most of last season's IPL and thought it was well organised with a bag full of excitement.
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"I'm sure we will do a good, if not a better job, of the event. It will be great to be involved with the IPL here," he said.
Homely feeling
The Indians' big signing, Duminy, was worried about security in India and was pleased that the whole issue has been resolved.
"It's great to be playing the IPL at home. I'm looking forward to it and especially to be playing alongside Sachin, Sanath and the other top players. Bring it on," he said.
Dale Steyn, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis, all of who play for the Bangalore Royal Challengers, also echoed the same sentiment and were looking forward to the start of the IPL from April 17.u00a0 The event has been postponed by a week because of South Africa's ODI series against Australia.
Meanwhile, Cassim Docrat, chief executive of KwaZulu-Natal Cricket, was over the moon when he heard IPL was coming to South Africa.
"We will make this one of the best events to have ever come to our shores. We have all the infrastructure to make things happen and we will rock and roll the IPL," he said.
Welcome MI, RCB
"I've heard that we may be allocated two teams. We'd love to have the Mumbai Indians as they will be a huge draw with the likes of Sachin, Harbhajan, Duminy and Sanath, who played for the Nashua Dolphins last season," he said.
"We wouldn't mind having Bangalore as well since they have a huge South African connection in Ray Jennings as coach, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Mark Boucher plus Kevin Pietersen, a KwaZulu-Natalian who joined them this year," Docrat added.
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