On January 2nd 2010, the IPL's official long list for the auction shows that 26 Pakistanis have registered. The shortlist - those players specifically requested by the franchises - released on January 6, had seven Pakistani names. Another list, released on January 16, had 11. On January 19th at the end of the auction no player from the current World Champion team was selected by the franchisees. There is no evidence to suggest any political interference between 6th and 19th Jan when all Pakistan players were rejected.

Sachin Tendulkar has been a role model for a whole generation of cricketers but when it comes to deriving inspiration for himself, the batting great says he looks up to three Bollywood icons.

Tendulkar said the passion and energy that legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and melody queens Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle put behind their performance make them really inspiring. “I get inspired by different sources. A powerful speech may inspire me or flawless tennis in a Grand Slam final. You also get inspired seeing the passion in some of the greats. The Mangeshkar sisters (for instance) — Lataji and Ashaji,” Tendulkar said.

Australia’s cricket legend, Shane Warne met Victoria's Premier John Brumby for discussing ways to end the attacks on the Indians. Warne is all set to use his charm to soothe the frayed Indian nerves Down Under after he met Victoria's Premier John Brumby for discussing ways to end the violent attacks on the community here.

Top-seeded Leander Paes and Cara Black spent all of 45 minutes warming up together in their run to the Australian Open final. But it was all they needed. Paes and Black won the title beating Ekaterina Makarova and Jaroslav Levinsky 7-5, 6-3. Paes and Black also teamed to win the 2008 U.S. Open title.

The India-South Africa series has not received its high billing for nothing. There is a lot more at stake for India and South Africa during February than mere victory. A battle between the two top teams in world cricket has generated good interest and Test cricket is in the news for the right reasons. Things could change so fast in cricket that the Australian team, on the other hand, who were running hot over several years, were left to play the shorter version of the game with the bottom placed West Indies.

Team India will be touring down under in late 2011, in around 20 months time, but if the current situation facing the Indian students in Australia and in particular in Melbourne continues, there is a very real possibility that BCCI under pressure may have some serious reservations touring Australia. That will be a big blow to Cricket in Australia, particularly to CAs coffers, which requires Indian team visit badly, as it is the year in which the 3 year losses are recouped and profit are made.