| MUMBAI:
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has announced
that Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi,
Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri will adjudicate the “DLF Player of the League”
Award in the DLF Indian Premier League. The “DLF Player of the League”
will be presented a trophy in addition to a cash prize of Rs 1 million by DLF.
The IPL kicks off
on 18 April. IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi says, “It gives me
great pleasure to announce that three legendary Indian cricketers will adjudicate
the “DLF Player of the League” Award by DLF for the inaugural season.
In Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi
Shastri, we have a truly
world class panel of adjudicators, as these are cricketers that have been successful
cricketing icons on the world stage. I look forward to their keen involvement
for the inaugural and in the years ahead.”
Pataudi,
Gavaskar and Shastri are all former Indian captains and members of the DLF Indian
Premier League Governing Council. The choice of these three former Indian greats,
was unanimous by the DLF IPL's Governing Council as the adjudicators for picking
the Player of the League. DLF
Group executive director Rajeev Talwar says, “The world’s best cricketers
are playing in the DLF Indian Premier League. The ‘DLF Player of the League’
Award, will recognize the best amongst the most talented.” Pataudi
said, “The DLF IPL is a wonderful venture and a real shot in the arm for
the world game as it moves in the right direction. Additionally, the fact that
it is being done with the sanction of the ICC, as well as other establishments
is the right and correct way forward. Given the wealth of talent on display, I
feel we have a really tough task ahead of us. However, I am confident that with
the help of my two colleagues, we will be able to choose a deserving winner.” Gavaskar
said, “It has been a pleasure to have associated with the developmental work
for the DLF Indian Premier League. I am certain that this format will not only
help promote the popularity of the game in India , but will also be hugely beneficial
for the entire cricketing fraternity in the long run. Choosing a Man of the Match
or a Man of the Series is always a difficult job but given the wealth of talent
on display in the inaugural season of the DLF Indian
Premier League it becomes
all the more difficult Hopefully with the years of experience between Tiger, Ravi
and myself, I am sure that our choice for the Man of the Series, will not disappoint
the lovers of the game.” Shastri
said, “It is a privilege and an honour to be a member of the panel that will
decide the ‘DLF Player of the League’ in the DLF Indian Premier League.
In our effort to make a choice, I feel that we have a major headache on our hands
considering the quality of players on view during the inaugural season of the
DLF Indian Premier League. I can only hope that one star shines brighter than
the others to make our task easier." | 
