INTERVIEWS

IPL, national duty have their own place: Lee

Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee on Saturday rubbished suggestions that the Indian Premier League (IPL) will lure players away from national duty, saying both can co-exist without being detrimental to each other.

"I don't think we should compare or match IPL with Australian cricket team as both have their own place," said Lee, who would be playing for Kings XI Punjab, one of the eight IPL teams competing in the Twenty20 tournament beginning next week.

On being quizzed about a recent survey conducted by Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) which says nearly half of the Aussie cricketers were willing to give up their central contracts to play in the cash-awash IPL, Lee said, "I don't think there is any reason why we can't do both (play for Australia and IPL simultaneously)."

"My heart is for Australian team and wearing Baggy Green cap is a great honour," he added.

The express bowler said he would give his "best" while playing for his IPL team "as I do when I play for Australia".

Apart from Lee, Kings XI Punjab will have Yuvraj Singh as "icon player" leading the side and will also feature Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardane, Romesh Powar, James Hopes, VRV Singh, Uday Kaul among other players.

Lee also felt players from different countries playing in one side "will also help strengthen bonds between the nations".

Lee had a word of praise for Indian pacers Irfan Pathan and Sreesanth, saying "they are world class bowlers".

"It would be great to share the new ball with them," he said.

Coach Tom Moody said he does not see motivation as a problem among players just because they come from different nations/regions.

"They are all professionals and have played in different conditions at different times...a lot of pride is at stake," Moody said.

Preity Zinta also expressed hope that her team would do well in the tournament.

Asked about the possibility that a section of the media may boycott the IPL in view of the restrictive clauses put forth by the League, Zinta said she would like to be "positive about the whole thing".

"I hope that a middle path will be followed and let's hope it works out," she said.

Later, Lee and Zinta kick-started ticket sales at the PCA stadium.

'A captain has to be emotionless'

Cool dude is a tag that sits easy on MS Dhoni. In a short stint, the Indian ODI & T20 skipper has shown quite a phlegmatic attitude in stressful situations. In a chat with Ajay Naidu , MSD speaks his heart out on pressure, money & hype.

There is a growing concern suddenly that the new kids on the block are getting too much money from the game. Do you think this is detrimental?
Well, if you see the young guys now they are quite intelligent. They realise quickly that all the money is flowing in because they are doing well in cricket. The moment they start giving more emphasis to money, their cricket will deteriorate. They also realise that if they play good cricket more money will flow in. I think they are all quite intelligent and won't allow money to affect them.

You are the T20 World Cup winning captain, the skipper of India's first-ever Tri-series triumph Down Under too. Now that expectations are bound to multiply, are you under more pressure as captain?
I always go by my own expectations. Of course, it's important to perform well and give your hundred percent. There will be additional responsibility on all guys after our showing in Australia, but we should not get burdened under the weight of huge expectations. We should know what we are capable of and what we should do to get the desired results.

Did you always lead your group of friends too before you suddenly got the reigns of Indian cricket?
I am not really a born leader. In fact, I haven't led any side before I became the Indian captain. But I always back my instincts. When the Indian captaincy was given to me, I took it as a challenge and a privilege.

Since you never led any team before actually becoming the Indian captain, how do you manage to look so comfortable in what is a very taxing job?
It is very taxing and very demanding, no doubt. Cricket is a religion in India. The expectation levels are too high. We play right through the year and people want us to win every game wherever we play. I guess if you have a good side with lots of potential, it eases the pressure on you.

You seem to have nerves of steel. Is that a true reflection of what's going on in your mind or do you simply manage to give that impression?
Well, at the international level, there is pressure on each and every individual. If you happen to be the captain, there's going to be some extra pressure as well. You have to look calm and cool because when you walk up to a bowler to boost him, you can't have a worried look on your face. That certainly won't help his confidence. A captain has to be emotionless, especially when he has to ask his bowlers and fielders to do certain things on the field. Deep down, however, you may be worried about your bowling changes and about your plans coming unstuck too.

You often back certain players to the hilt. What qualities do you look for in a player before deciding to give him a long rope?
It's important to have characters in the team. You want players who have the right attitude, are ready to give their best and are determined to win. Different players have different capabilities, so you've got to pick and choose. At times you may have to back someone. But it's important that he performs.

They say leading India is the toughest job in world cricket. Are you enjoying the job or have you started feeling the strain?
Well, I am enjoying the job. At least till now, things have been cool. The team has been doing well and the atmosphere in the dressing room is great. At the end of the day, you want to enjoy your cricket. That's your life. There will be tough times, there will be times when the team is not doing well enough, but the key is to maintain the same intensity level. We may not win every time but as long as the effort is there, as long as the dressing room atmosphere is good, it makes your job easy and worthwhile.

Some comments have been attributed to you suggesting that you tried to create a divide between seniors and juniors. It also gave the impression that your unprecedented success has gone to your head?
A lot has already been said about it, so I don't really want to get into it. At times, during the course of an interview, you can't elaborate each and every point. So that's when you can be misinterpreted. I think I am a fairly level-headed guy. My team knows it and all the seniors know that I have a lot of respect for them. It was a needless controversy. The team is strongly united. The players love and respect each other. There's great camaraderie within the group. That's what matters to me.

But the fact that BCCI chief Sharad Pawar had to intervene and actually drive home a point by announcing that you got the job only on the recommendation of Sachin Tendulkar...
Sachin Tendulkar is my childhood hero. I watched cricket only because of him and started playing the game too because of him. So I take it as a privilege that he found me worthy enough for the job. I am also grateful to the BCCI chief for making it clear that there's no division within the team. This is like one big family.
When I started playing for India we had great role models in the team like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. Each one of them is a legend of the game and brings in a different flavour to the team. I have always respected, and appreciated what every senior in the side has achieved because I know the kind of hard work and sacrifice that is needed to be successful at this level. In my four years of international cricket, I have not only admired these cricketers but I've tried to learn and pick up a few things from everyone.
I have been impressed by Tendulkar's focus and devotion, Dravid's discipline, Kumble's determination, Ganguly's never-say-die attitude and Sehwag's audacity and will to dominate the bowling.

Right from your debut in 2004, you have had a dream run. How do you look back on your fairytale success. Do you ever get up in the middle of the night and pinch yourself to see if all this is for real?
I don't really pinch myself, but yes, God has been kind to me. It has been a steep graph for me. I got a chance to play the One-dayers. I did well and got into the Test side and I'm happy with my progress at this level. It feels good to know that you are doing well for your country and giving hundred percent.

Did you ever dream of such a turnaround in your life and career?
I don't dream much. I live in reality. I plan for the future and I believe in taking one step at a time. But, I give more than hundred per cent not just in matches but also in practice sessions. Luckily, I've been pretty successful in whatever I have touched so far.

You are already a huge celebrity. Talk us through the negatives of being a celebrity in India?
There are lots of them. First of all whatever celebrities do comes under the microscope. You just don't have a private life. And everybody wants a piece of you. They all want your autographs and photographs. Worse still, you are always in danger of getting into a controversy, thanks to the overzealous media. When I started playing for India in December 2004, it wasn't so bad. Since then, there has been a huge increase in the numbers too. And it is still growing.
So there's a lot of pressure on you from the media. On their part, the media promotes the players by highlighting their performances. They make you a star.