New Delhi, Apr. 15 : The Rajasthan Royals, which won last year''s inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament, has axed former Test player and Uttar Pradesh captain Mohammad Kaif and seven other players from the squad that will do duty in the second edition.

They will now fly back to India. Kaif was purchased for a hefty 675,000 US dollars at the auction last year, but didn''t have much of a role during the victorious campaign.

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif will be a part of the second season of the T20 extravgtanza, not as a player but only as a spectator!

"Asif will be going to South Africa to watch a few matches of the IPL," said the bowler's management company.

Asif, who already left for London on Tuesday for a two-week stint, will fly to South Africa to watch a few IPL games.

In IPL first season Asif had played for Delhi Daredevils. However, he was banned by the IPL after he tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.

Master-blaster batsman Sachin Tendulkar did not denounce Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) coach John Buchanan's multiple-captain theory in univocal terms but categorically ruled out that there would be such experiment with the Mumbai team.

Speaking on this with the media persons, Tendulkar said, "Let them (KKR) do whatever they want. At Mumbai Indians, we will do what we want."

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has decided to announce their skipper for upcoming Indian Premier League's second season on April 16 (Thursday).

Speaking on this with the media persons, KKR pride owner Shah Rukh Khan said, "We will decide first and announce (the captain) on April 16."

The season 2 of the much awaited IPL would start from April 18 with a bang.

Islamabad, Apr. 13: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has managed to bag a sponsorship of over a million dollars for the UAE one-day international series.

"At the time when everyone thought we would not be able to finalise a sponsorship deal worth 200,000 dollars, the PCB has succeeded to strike a deal of over one million dollars. That does not include the money we would get from the TV rights," PCB's chief financial advisor, Mohammad Naeem, said.

New Delhi, Apr 12 : Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Sunday said if given a chance, he would prefer to step in as a middle order batsman.

"I was a middle order batsman. I like to bat in middle order. But currently, team demands me to open batting and I am doing so," Sehwag told reporters on the sidelines of a friendly five-over cricket match between his team and co-opener Gautam Gambhir's teams here.

Sehwag also revealed that his request to bat in lower down was turned down by the team management.